<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
     This Schedule  Contains Summary  Financial  Information  Extracted >From (A)
Item 7 - 'Financial  Statements And Supplementary  Data" And Is Qualified In Its
Entirety By Reference To Such (B) Financial  Statements  Included In This Report
And Incorporated Herein By Refernce.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                       0000921085
<NAME>                           CENTRAL COAST BANCORP
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
       
<S>                                        <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                          40,827
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                47,507
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     96,578
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          12,424
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            12,525
<LOANS>                                        298,232
<ALLOWANCE>                                      4,346
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 499,627
<DEPOSITS>                                     445,247
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              4,794
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        41,195
<OTHER-SE>                                       7,772
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 499,672
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                  7,040
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                1,853
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   690
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                 9,583
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               3,358
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               3,358
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            6,225
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                       40
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  3,314
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,361
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       3,361
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,970
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.38
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    5.40
<LOANS-NON>                                      1,024
<LOANS-PAST>                                        73
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 4,228
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                        4
<RECOVERIES>                                        82
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                4,346
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             4,346
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
        


</TABLE>