<ARTICLE>               9
<CIK>                                      0000037032
<NAME>                                     FIRST VIRGINIA BANKS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                               1000
<RESTATED>
       
                                                      
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              12-MOS           12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996      DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996      DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                         378,171          397,858
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0                0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               323,620          235,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0                0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                          0           64,546
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                       1,820,949        2,128,220
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                         1,823,404        2,146,792
<LOANS>                                      5,364,787        5,038,076
<ALLOWANCE>                                     62,761           57,922
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               8,236,056        8,221,536
<DEPOSITS>                                   7,042,650        7,056,107
<SHORT-TERM>                                   234,488          209,719
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             83,765           83,353
<LONG-TERM>                                      3,876            2,710
<COMMON>                                        48,612           50,927
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                0
<PREFERRED>                                        647              695
<OTHER-SE>                                     822,018          818,025
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               8,236,056        8,221,536
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                450,109          436,495
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              118,896          117,524
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                18,211           19,580
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               587,216          573,599
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             202,370          204,433
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               9,928           11,069
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          374,918          358,097
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   17,734            8,341
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               1,789                0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                279,310          271,384
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                176,324          168,278
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     176,324          168,278
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                0
<CHANGES>                                            0                0
<NET-INCOME>                                   116,341          111,599
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.34             2.19
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.32             2.18
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    7.88             7.95
<LOANS-NON>                                     14,906           17,066
<LOANS-PAST>                                     8,919            6,262
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                 5,537            4,260
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  5,140            7,680
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                57,922           58,860
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   16,611           12,721
<RECOVERIES>                                     3,716            3,442
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               62,761           57,922
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            62,761           57,922
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         62,761           57,922