<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK> 0000719264
<NAME> FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES
       
                                                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS                   9-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1994             SEP-30-1995             SEP-30-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995             SEP-30-1994             SEP-30-1995             SEP-30-1994
<CASH>                                      11,407,000               8,452,000               1,407,000               8,452,000
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0                       0                       0                       0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0               1,400,000                       0               1,400,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0                 100,000                       0                 100,000
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                 20,092,000              18,429,000              20,092,000              18,429,000
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                      47,328,000              48,065,000              47,328,000              48,065,000
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0                       0                       0                       0
<LOANS>                                    192,170,000             165,306,000             192,170,000             165,306,000
<ALLOWANCE>                                  2,247,000               1,879,000               2,247,000               1,879,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             283,878,000             252,080,000             283,878,000             252,080,000
<DEPOSITS>                                 230,055,000             201,042,000             230,055,000             201,042,000
<SHORT-TERM>                                17,689,000              22,453,000              17,689,000              22,453,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                          3,093,000               1,299,000               3,093,000               1,299,000
<LONG-TERM>                                  6,696,000               4,250,000               6,696,000               4,250,000
<COMMON>                                       731,000                 709,000                 731,000                 709,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                  25,614,000              22,327,000              25,614,000              22,327,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>             283,878,000             252,080,000             283,878,000             252,080,000
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              4,646,000               3,858,000              13,061,000              10,695,000
<INTEREST-INVEST>                            1,076,000                 933,000               3,390,000               2,716,000
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                41,000                  11,000                 149,000                  78,000
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             5,763,000               4,802,000              16,600,000              13,489,000
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                           2,635,000               1,863,000               7,466,000               5,087,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           2,950,000               2,140,000               8,368,000               5,733,000
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        2,813,000               2,662,000               8,232,000               7,756,000
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  107,000                 102,000                 258,000                 301,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                              36,000                       0                  60,000                       0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                              2,267,000               2,100,000               6,826,000               6,349,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              1,161,000               1,134,000               3,215,000               3,420,000
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     755,000                 757,000               2,121,000               2,336,000
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   755,000                 757,000               2,121,000               2,336,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.04                    1.07                    2.93                    3.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.04                    1.07                    2.93                    3.30
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.33                    4.56                    4.23                    4.43
<LOANS-NON>                                    893,000                 816,000                 893,000                 816,000
<LOANS-PAST>                                   315,000                 150,000                 315,000                 150,000
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                              2,665,000               3,274,000               2,665,000               3,274,000
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                             2,186,000               1,879,000               2,054,000               1,676,000
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   80,000                  44,000                 196,000                 118,000
<RECOVERIES>                                    34,000                  48,000                 131,000                 126,000
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                            2,247,000               1,985,000               2,247,000               1,985,000
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                         2,247,000               1,985,000               2,247,000               1,985,000
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                       0                       0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0                       0                       0                       0