<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000710507 <NAME> First Banks, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> Jun-30-1998 <CASH> 134,230 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 2,147 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 32,000 <TRADING-ASSETS> 4,502 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 639,457 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 19,129 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 3,232,240 <ALLOWANCE> (55,591) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,275,463 <DEPOSITS> 3,783,772 <SHORT-TERM> 63,086 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 49,846 <LONG-TERM> 134,284 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 13,063 <COMMON> 5,915 <OTHER-SE> 225,497 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 4,275,463 <INTEREST-LOAN> 136,170 <INTEREST-INVEST> 21,710 <INTEREST-OTHER> 1,990 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 159,870 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 76,695 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 81,722 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 78,148 <LOAN-LOSSES> 3,950 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 256 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 67,096 <INCOME-PRETAX> 23,253 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 23,253 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 14,242 <EPS-PRIMARY> 588.03 <EPS-DILUTED> 568.22 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.25 <LOANS-NON> 33,800 <LOANS-PAST> 2,738 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 830 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 24,271 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 50,509 <CHARGE-OFFS> (4,138) <RECOVERIES> 4,385 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 55,591 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 55,951 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 5,749