<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000310979 <NAME> First Banks America, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> Jan-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> Jun-30-1997 <CASH> 16,340 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 433 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 8,400 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 78,426 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 247,574 <ALLOWANCE> (6,251) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 373,592 <DEPOSITS> 312,819 <SHORT-TERM> 6,097 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 6,276 <LONG-TERM> 14,500 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 587 <OTHER-SE> 33,313 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 373,592 <INTEREST-LOAN> 10,634 <INTEREST-INVEST> 2,593 <INTEREST-OTHER> 359 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 13,586 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 5,472 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,206 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 7,380 <LOAN-LOSSES> 1,285 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 5,700 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,873 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 1,873 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,173 <EPS-PRIMARY> .32 <EPS-DILUTED> .32 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.24 <LOANS-NON> 2,003 <LOANS-PAST> 146 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 4,383 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 6,147 <CHARGE-OFFS> 1,948 <RECOVERIES> 767 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 6,251 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 6,251 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0