<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (A)
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF STERLING BANCSHARES, INC. AND ITS
SUBSIDIARIES FOR YEAR ENDED 12/31/97 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH (B) FORM 10K FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED 12/31/97.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                         110,479                  85,291                       0
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             409                      22                       0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                15,496                  40,563                       0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0                       0                       0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     81,592                  57,382                       0
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         195,309                 148,083                       0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           197,424                 147,665                       0
<LOANS>                                        738,111                 554,325                       0
<ALLOWANCE>                                      7,377                   7,053                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,182,877                 922,330                       0
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,022,220                 840,344                       0
<SHORT-TERM>                                    44,491                   3,751                       0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              7,432                   7,231                       0
<LONG-TERM>                                          0                   4,000                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           28,750                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                        177                      88                       0
<COMMON>                                        13,760                  13,543                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                      66,047                  53,373                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,182,877                 922,330                       0
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 61,448                  48,326                  40,781
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               15,471                  11,953                  12,947
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 2,349                   1,892                     540
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                79,268                  62,171                  54,268
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              23,785                  19,104                  15,281
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              24,785                  19,807                  17,271
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           54,483                  42,364                  36,997
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    2,945                   2,343                   1,149
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0                       0                       0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 41,618                  32,354                  29,829
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 19,659                  16,265                  14,087
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      19,659                  16,265                  14,087
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,083                  11,153                   9,683
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .64                     .55                     .48
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .61                     .53                     .47
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    5.91                    5.80                    5.84
<LOANS-NON>                                      4,192                   2,535                   3,227
<LOANS-PAST>                                       368                     368                     619
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0                      45                     103
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 12,676                  13,786                  12,496
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 7,053                   6,465                   6,317
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    3,054                   2,197                   1,358
<RECOVERIES>                                       433                     442                     357
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                7,377                   7,053                   6,465
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             2,828                   3,074                   2,706
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                       0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          4,549                   3,979                   3,759
        

</TABLE>