<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000310979 <NAME> First Banks America, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> Sep-30-1997 <CASH> 13,872 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 1,050 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 3,500 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 86,764 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 248,462 <ALLOWANCE> (6,565) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 376,547 <DEPOSITS> 311,848 <SHORT-TERM> 8,496 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 7,137 <LONG-TERM> 14,500 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 587 <OTHER-SE> 33,979 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 376,547 <INTEREST-LOAN> 16,737 <INTEREST-INVEST> 3,815 <INTEREST-OTHER> 529 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 21,081 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 8,278 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,416 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 11,665 <LOAN-LOSSES> 1,750 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 8,521 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,372 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 3,372 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,106 <EPS-PRIMARY> .58 <EPS-DILUTED> .58 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.42 <LOANS-NON> 2,441 <LOANS-PAST> 248 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 3,737 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 6,147 <CHARGE-OFFS> 2,364 <RECOVERIES> 1,032 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 6,565 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 6,565 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0