<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM GOLDEN ISLES
FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC. UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE
PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1998, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                       2,462,479
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                          33,119
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                             4,420,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                 17,533,639
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                     92,050,923
<ALLOWANCE>                                  1,526,337
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             120,818,305
<DEPOSITS>                                  94,657,433
<SHORT-TERM>                                   878,671
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                          1,233,705
<LONG-TERM>                                 12,951,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     1,094,338
<OTHER-SE>                                  10,003,158
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>             120,818,305
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              2,545,861
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              341,227
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             2,887,088
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                           1,192,557
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,453,408
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        1,433,680
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   96,657
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                              1,151,613
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                427,123
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     427,123
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   292,940
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .13
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    5.18
<LOANS-NON>                                  1,534,347
<LOANS-PAST>                                   246,828
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               478,240
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                              1,965,775
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                             1,512,953
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  270,500
<RECOVERIES>                                   187,227
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                            1,526,337
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           848,767
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        677,570
        

</TABLE>