<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000356171 <NAME> TRICO BANCSHARES <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 44,149 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 591,892 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 4,400 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 144,234 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 99,285 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 97,848 <LOANS> 460,741 <ALLOWANCE> 6,233 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 797,137 <DEPOSITS> 703,695 <SHORT-TERM> 0 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 9,772 <LONG-TERM> 21,275 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 47,841 <OTHER-SE> 14,554 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 797,137 <INTEREST-LOAN> 21,571 <INTEREST-INVEST> 6,897 <INTEREST-OTHER> 268 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 28,736 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 10,890 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,707 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 17,029 <LOAN-LOSSES> 1,200 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 19 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 16,112 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,222 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,643 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.55 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.55 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.41 <LOANS-NON> 9,265 <LOANS-PAST> 222 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 6,097 <CHARGE-OFFS> 1,167 <RECOVERIES> 103 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 6,233 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 6,233 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0