<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000356171 <NAME> TRICO BANCSHARES <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 36,190 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 442,610 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 68,148 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 105,949 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 103,339 <LOANS> 379,950 <ALLOWANCE> 5,571 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 621,039 <DEPOSITS> 525,619 <SHORT-TERM> 7,500 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 7,579 <LONG-TERM> 24,284 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 44,745 <OTHER-SE> 11,312 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 621,039 <INTEREST-LOAN> 27,548 <INTEREST-INVEST> 8,009 <INTEREST-OTHER> 332 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 35,889 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 12,295 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13,889 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 22,000 <LOAN-LOSSES> 627 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 17,146 <INCOME-PRETAX> 9,018 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 5,269 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,269 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.13 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.13 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.97 <LOANS-NON> 4,692 <LOANS-PAST> 20 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 5,580 <CHARGE-OFFS> 919 <RECOVERIES> 283 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 5,571 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 5,571 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0