<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000310979 <NAME> First Banks America, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> Mar-31-1997 <CASH> 13,238 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 756 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 11,400 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 90,546 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 234,237 <ALLOWANCE> (6,146) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 373,887 <DEPOSITS> 313,843 <SHORT-TERM> 6,613 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 6,124 <LONG-TERM> 14,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 587 <OTHER-SE> 32,720 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 373,887 <INTEREST-LOAN> 5,193 <INTEREST-INVEST> 1,248 <INTEREST-OTHER> 196 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 6,637 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 2,777 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,097 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 3,540 <LOAN-LOSSES> 550 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 3,031 <INCOME-PRETAX> 614 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 614 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 377 <EPS-PRIMARY> .10 <EPS-DILUTED> .10 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.06 <LOANS-NON> 1,930 <LOANS-PAST> 656 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 5,866 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 6,147 <CHARGE-OFFS> 898 <RECOVERIES> 347 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 6,146 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 6,146 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0