<ARTICLE>                                            9
<CIK>                         0000710507
<NAME>                        First Banks, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           Dec-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                              Jan-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                Jun-30-1997 
<CASH>                                         111,701
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           3,646
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               133,900
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                 2,298
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    530,598
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          19,597
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      2,859,918
<ALLOWANCE>                                    (47,708)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,794,020 
<DEPOSITS>                                   3,348,380  
<SHORT-TERM>                                    53,216
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             48,098
<LONG-TERM>                                     83,130
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     60,375
<COMMON>                                         5,915
<OTHER-SE>                                     194,906
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               3,794,020
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                123,097
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               16,480
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 2,502
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               142,079
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              65,741
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              73,373
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           68,706
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    6,025
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 49,556
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 24,041
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      24,041
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    15,699
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   558.33
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   534.61
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    8.33
<LOANS-NON>                                     27,217
<LOANS-PAST>                                     6,127
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 28,915
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                46,781
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   10,648
<RECOVERIES>                                     5,550
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               47,708
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            47,708
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0