<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000310979 <NAME> First Banks America, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> Jun-30-1998 <CASH> 28,343 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 1,043 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 1,500 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 130,916 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 469,192 <ALLOWANCE> (11,845) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 674,803 <DEPOSITS> 586,444 <SHORT-TERM> 5,408 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 8,923 <LONG-TERM> 17,600 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 861 <OTHER-SE> 55,567 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 674,803 <INTEREST-LOAN> 21,570 <INTEREST-INVEST> 4,155 <INTEREST-OTHER> 672 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 26,397 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 10,868 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,934 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 14,463 <LOAN-LOSSES> 500 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 101 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 12,398 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,594 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 2,121 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,121 <EPS-PRIMARY> .42 <EPS-DILUTED> .42 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.75 <LOANS-NON> 6,201 <LOANS-PAST> 386 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 4,052 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 11,407 <CHARGE-OFFS> (2,010) <RECOVERIES> 1,063 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 11,845 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 11,845 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 2,951