<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000356171 <NAME> TRICO BANCSHARES <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 33,572 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 614,266 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 2,000 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 188,026 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 86,622 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 86,535 <LOANS> 468,155 <ALLOWANCE> 6,784 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 822,422 <DEPOSITS> 729,005 <SHORT-TERM> 3,300 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 12,344 <LONG-TERM> 11,436 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 48,221 <OTHER-SE> 18,116 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 822,422 <INTEREST-LOAN> 11,321 <INTEREST-INVEST> 3,878 <INTEREST-OTHER> 66 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 15,265 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 5,712 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,938 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 9,327 <LOAN-LOSSES> 825 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 80 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 8,387 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,121 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 3,121 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,930 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.41 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.40 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.49 <LOANS-NON> 4,529 <LOANS-PAST> 217 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 6,459 <CHARGE-OFFS> 556 <RECOVERIES> 56 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 6,784 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 6,784 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0