<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000310979 <NAME> First Banks America, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> Mar-31-1998 <CASH> 32,651 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 2,271 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 42,250 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 141,131 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 444,099 <ALLOWANCE> 12,063 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 692,409 <DEPOSITS> 600,557 <SHORT-TERM> 3,453 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 11,608 <LONG-TERM> 19,950 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 861 <OTHER-SE> 55,980 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 692,409 <INTEREST-LOAN> 10,568 <INTEREST-INVEST> 2,033 <INTEREST-OTHER> 395 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 12,996 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 5,362 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,899 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 7,097 <LOAN-LOSSES> 300 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 92 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 6,057 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,890 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 1,890 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,100 <EPS-PRIMARY> .22 <EPS-DILUTED> .22 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.74 <LOANS-NON> 6,003 <LOANS-PAST> 672 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 5,317 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 11,407 <CHARGE-OFFS> (1,059) <RECOVERIES> 530 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 12,063 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 12,063 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 2,915