<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000353191 <NAME> NORTH VALLEY BANCORP <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 8,773 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 204,553 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 26,200 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 9,175 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 40,330 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 41,469 <LOANS> 167,006 <ALLOWANCE> 1,374 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 264,011 <DEPOSITS> 235,589 <SHORT-TERM> 0 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 3,510 <LONG-TERM> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 9,896 <OTHER-SE> 15,016 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 264,011 <INTEREST-LOAN> 3,756 <INTEREST-INVEST> 1,035 <INTEREST-OTHER> 0 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 4,791 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 2,102 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,102 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 2,689 <LOAN-LOSSES> 180 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 89 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 1,765 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,477 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 1,477 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,097 <EPS-PRIMARY> .59 <EPS-DILUTED> .59 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.50 <LOANS-NON> 507 <LOANS-PAST> 52 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 1,254 <CHARGE-OFFS> 70 <RECOVERIES> 10 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 1,374 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 0 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0