<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM PEOPLE'S
BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES QUARTERLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE SIX
MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN SUCH FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          13,503
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                    11
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    234,954
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          84,036
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            84,042
<LOANS>                                        460,715
<ALLOWANCE>                                      4,493
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 858,377
<DEPOSITS>                                     393,274
<SHORT-TERM>                                    58,400
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              6,240
<LONG-TERM>                                    368,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           367
<OTHER-SE>                                      32,096
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 858,377
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 17,012
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               11,156
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   234
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                28,402
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               7,133
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              18,355
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           10,047
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      300
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 182
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  8,857
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  4,669
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,968
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .90
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .88
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    2.59
<LOANS-NON>                                      2,944
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 4,291
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      326
<RECOVERIES>                                       228
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                4,493
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             3,110
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          1,383
        

</TABLE>