<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000356171 <NAME> TRICO BANCSHARES <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 38,447 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 595,343 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 150,423 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 96,245 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 95,876 <LOANS> 468,061 <ALLOWANCE> 6,364 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 798,141 <DEPOSITS> 708,953 <SHORT-TERM> 4,700 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 9,214 <LONG-TERM> 11,443 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 47,930 <OTHER-SE> 15,901 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 798,141 <INTEREST-LOAN> 33,338 <INTEREST-INVEST> 10,605 <INTEREST-OTHER> 292 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 44,235 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 16,775 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 17,834 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 26,401 <LOAN-LOSSES> 2,200 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 18 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 24,312 <INCOME-PRETAX> 6,871 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 6,871 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 4,257 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.88 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.88 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.54 <LOANS-NON> 5,515 <LOANS-PAST> 616 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 6,097 <CHARGE-OFFS> 2,105 <RECOVERIES> 172 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 6,364 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 6,364 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0