<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000356171 <NAME> TRICO BANCSHARES <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <CASH> 30,572 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 409,265 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 75,529 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 108,279 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 104,643 <LOANS> 372,918 <ALLOWANCE> 5,234 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 616,936 <DEPOSITS> 491,009 <SHORT-TERM> 39,828 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 6,742 <LONG-TERM> 24,458 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 44,627 <OTHER-SE> 10,272 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 616,936 <INTEREST-LOAN> 17,593 <INTEREST-INVEST> 5,402 <INTEREST-OTHER> 332 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 23,327 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 8,099 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,033 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 14,294 <LOAN-LOSSES> 90 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 11,329 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,921 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 3,448 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,448 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.74 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.74 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.70 <LOANS-NON> 3,904 <LOANS-PAST> 20 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 5,580 <CHARGE-OFFS> 697 <RECOVERIES> 261 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 5,234 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 5,234 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0