<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK> 0000719264
<NAME> FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES
<PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 3-MOS 9-MOS 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1995 DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 SEP-30-1995 SEP-30-1996 SEP-30-1995
<CASH> 11,624 11,407 11,624 11,407
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 0 0 0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 0 0 0
<TRADING-ASSETS> 0 0 0 0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 43,788 20,092 43,788 20,092
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 31,194 47,328 31,194 47,328
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 0 0 0
<LOANS> 215,541 192,170 215,541 192,170
<ALLOWANCE> 2,511 2,247 2,511 2,247
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 314,871 283,878 314,871 283,878
<DEPOSITS> 252,407 230,055 252,407 230,055
<SHORT-TERM> 26,221 17,689 26,221 17,689
<LIABILITIES-OTHER> 3,442 3,093 3,442 3,093
<LONG-TERM> 4,015 6,696 4,015 6,696
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 0 0
<PREFERRED> 0 0 0 0
<COMMON> 739 731 739 731
<OTHER-SE> 28,047 25,614 28,047 25,614
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 314,871 283,878 314,871 283,878
<INTEREST-LOAN> 5,189 4,646 14,706 13,061
<INTEREST-INVEST> 1,248 1,076 3,705 3,390
<INTEREST-OTHER> 16 41 64 149
<INTEREST-TOTAL> 6,453 5,763 18,475 16,600
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 2,679 2,635 7,860 7,466
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,103 2,950 8,913 8,368
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 3,350 2,813 9,562 8,232
<LOAN-LOSSES> 163 107 402 258
<SECURITIES-GAINS> 13 36 192 60
<EXPENSE-OTHER> 2,334 2,267 7,069 6,826
<INCOME-PRETAX> 1,607 1,161 4,581 3,215
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 1,042 755 2,986 2,121
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 0 0
<CHANGES> 0 0 0 0
<NET-INCOME> 1,042 755 2,986 2,121
<EPS-PRIMARY> 1.42 1.04 4.06 2.93
<EPS-DILUTED> 1.42 1.04 4.06 2.93
<YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.61 4.33 4.39 4.23
<LOANS-NON> 1,523 893 1,523 893
<LOANS-PAST> 171 315 171 315
<LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 0 0 0
<LOANS-PROBLEM> 3,485 2,665 3,485 2,665
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 2,359 2,186 2,216 2,054
<CHARGE-OFFS> 50 80 218 196
<RECOVERIES> 39 34 111 131
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 2,511 2,247 2,511 2,247
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 2,511 2,247 2,511 2,247
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 0 0 0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0 0 0 0