<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated statement of financial condition and consolidated statement of
income found on pages 1 and 2 of the Company's Form 10-Q for the year-to-date
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000919805
<NAME> COASTAL BANCORP, INC.
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          23,016
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    179,782
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                       1,380,117
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                         1,334,022
<LOANS>                                      1,210,054
<ALLOWANCE>                                      6,625
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,859,448
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,308,518
<SHORT-TERM>                                   879,115
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             35,527
<LONG-TERM>                                     50,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            50
<OTHER-SE>                                      90,577
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               2,859,448
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 70,721
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               71,826
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 1,111
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               143,658
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              44,687
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             102,837
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           40,821
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    1,475
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 (4)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 37,238
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,123
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       9,123
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,669
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.74
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.74
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                     12,834
<LOANS-PAST>                                       158
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 5,703
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      648
<RECOVERIES>                                        95
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                6,625
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             6,625
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
        

</TABLE>