<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000356171 <NAME> TRICO BANCSHARES <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 47,665 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 599,014 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 7,000 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 166,584 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 102,107 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 101,513 <LOANS> 423,749 <ALLOWANCE> 5,866 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 797,301 <DEPOSITS> 703,378 <SHORT-TERM> 0 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 11,280 <LONG-TERM> 21,278 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 47,737 <OTHER-SE> 13,628 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 797,301 <INTEREST-LOAN> 10,731 <INTEREST-INVEST> 3,012 <INTEREST-OTHER> 215 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 13,958 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 5,209 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,608 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 8,350 <LOAN-LOSSES> 600 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 7,292 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,555 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,564 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.32 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.32 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.58 <LOANS-NON> 6,672 <LOANS-PAST> 248 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 6,097 <CHARGE-OFFS> 861 <RECOVERIES> 30 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 5,866 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 5,866 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0