<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000710507 <NAME> First Banks, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> Sep-30-1998 <CASH> 130,186 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 2,657 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 10,200 <TRADING-ASSETS> 3,882 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 635,693 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 20,519 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 3,432,484 <ALLOWANCE> 60,553 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,461,294 <DEPOSITS> 3,866,764 <SHORT-TERM> 105,519 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 107,252 <LONG-TERM> 127,402 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 13,063 <COMMON> 5,915 <OTHER-SE> 235,379 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 4,461,294 <INTEREST-LOAN> 209,430 <INTEREST-INVEST> 31,676 <INTEREST-OTHER> 2,541 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 243,647 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 114,535 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 122,045 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 121,602 <LOAN-LOSSES> 6,225 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 1,430 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 103,202 <INCOME-PRETAX> 36,298 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 36,298 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 22,829 <EPS-PRIMARY> 942.70 <EPS-DILUTED> 910.91 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.31 <LOANS-NON> 32,400 <LOANS-PAST> 3,238 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 113 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 27,364 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 53,709 <CHARGE-OFFS> (6,037) <RECOVERIES> 6,656 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 60,553 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 60,553 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 6,163