<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000310979 <NAME> First Banks America, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> Dec-31-1997 <CASH> 23,537 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 690 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 2,215 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 83,791 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 313,437 <ALLOWANCE> 6,715 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 451,256 <DEPOSITS> 383,942 <SHORT-TERM> 2,807 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 10,143 <LONG-TERM> 14,500 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 627 <OTHER-SE> 39,237 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 451,256 <INTEREST-LOAN> 23,159 <INTEREST-INVEST> 5,073 <INTEREST-OTHER> 651 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 28,883 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 11,314 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 12,834 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 16,049 <LOAN-LOSSES> 2,000 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 76 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 11,676 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,937 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 4,937 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,179 <EPS-PRIMARY> .88 <EPS-DILUTED> .87 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.46 <LOANS-NON> 2,411 <LOANS-PAST> 1,158 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 4,500 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 6,147 <CHARGE-OFFS> (2,744) <RECOVERIES> 1,282 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 6,715 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 6,715 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0