<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ADVANTAGE BANCORP. INC. AS OF AND 
FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBEER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          42,908
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             509
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    160,676
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         226,773
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           230,572
<LOANS>                                        571,056
<ALLOWANCE>                                      5,797
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,037,462
<DEPOSITS>                                     670,775
<SHORT-TERM>                                    72,115
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             12,020
<LONG-TERM>                                    176,360
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        38,569
<OTHER-SE>                                      60,435
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,037,462
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 48,275
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               26,925
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 1,467
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                76,667
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              30,473
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              45,714
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           30,953
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      360
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 627
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 22,272
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 16,641
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      16,641
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,688
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.09
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.05
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    7.84
<LOANS-NON>                                      3,161
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 5,773
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      807
<RECOVERIES>                                       471
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                5,797
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             5,797
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
        

</TABLE>