<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
     December 31, 1996 10-K and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
     such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000926039
<NAME>                        Life Bancorp, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U. S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1.00
<CASH>                                         7,789
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         3,494
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    595,828
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         140,974
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           141,269
<LOANS>                                        622,405
<ALLOWANCE>                                    9,656
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,419,762
<DEPOSITS>                                     732,322
<SHORT-TERM>                                   520,711
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            10,564
<LONG-TERM>                                    5,227
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       98
<OTHER-SE>                                     150,840
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 1,419,762
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                48,856
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              2,783
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               43,494
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               95,133
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             35,662
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             60,929
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          34,204
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  (265)
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             89
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                23,501
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                14,330
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     14,330
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   8,614
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.89
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.88
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                 2.73
<LOANS-NON>                                    2,550
<LOANS-PAST>                                   0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               2,464
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                10,226
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               4,438
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  1,429
<RECOVERIES>                                   1,727
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              9,656
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                            0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        9,656
        


</TABLE>