<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000310979 <NAME> First Banks America, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> Dec-31-1996 <CASH> 12,343 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 146 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 9,475 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 86,910 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 241,874 <ALLOWANCE> (6,147) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 375,182 <DEPOSITS> 319,806 <SHORT-TERM> 2,092 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 5,786 <LONG-TERM> 14,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 587 <OTHER-SE> 32,911 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 375,182 <INTEREST-LOAN> 16,494 <INTEREST-INVEST> 3,519 <INTEREST-OTHER> 1,433 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 21,446 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 9,301 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,993 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 11,453 <LOAN-LOSSES> 1,250 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 185 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 9,480 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,571 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 2,571 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,569 <EPS-PRIMARY> .40 <EPS-DILUTED> .40 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 7.89 <LOANS-NON> 2,095 <LOANS-PAST> 583 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 9,770 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 5,228 <CHARGE-OFFS> (4,061) <RECOVERIES> 1,392 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 6,147 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 6,147 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0