<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (A) PEOPLE'S
BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE
MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH (B) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN SUCH FORM 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                              JAN-1-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          13,980
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 3,633
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    214,895
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                        254,855
<ALLOWANCE>                                      4,747
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 513,421
<DEPOSITS>                                     339,112
<SHORT-TERM>                                    37,750
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                977
<LONG-TERM>                                    103,020
<COMMON>                                           339
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                      28,485
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 513,421
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 14,374
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               10,041
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   123
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                24,538
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               7,448
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              13,684
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           10,854
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                       75
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                (28)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  9,776
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  4,074
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       4,074
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,628
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .81
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .81
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    2.46
<LOANS-NON>                                      5,095
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                   550
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 3,813<F1>
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      946
<RECOVERIES>                                       153
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                4,747
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             3,404
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          1,343
<FN>
<F1>THE COMPANY RECORDED $1.7 MILLION IN LOAN LOSS ALLOWANCE FROM THE ACQUISITION
OF FIVE BRANCHES FROM SUBSIDIARIES OF FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. ON MARCH 8,
1996.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>