<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK> 0000719264
<NAME> FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES
<PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 3-MOS 9-MOS 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 SEP-30-1997 SEP-30-1998 SEP-30-1997
<CASH> 11,618 14,605 11,618 14,605
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 0 0 0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 0 0 0
<TRADING-ASSETS> 0 0 0 0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 79,078 46,606 79,078 46,606
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 24,507 27,204 24,507 27,204
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 0 0 0
<LOANS> 274,482 234,627 274,482 234,627
<ALLOWANCE> 3,483 2,788 3,483 2,788
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 413,367 338,217 413,367 338,217
<DEPOSITS> 309,982 257,342 309,982 257,342
<SHORT-TERM> 39,092 35,394 39,092 35,394
<LIABILITIES-OTHER> 4,042 3,415 4,042 3,415
<LONG-TERM> 21,201 9,360 21,201 9,360
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 0 0
<PREFERRED> 0 0 0 0
<COMMON> 3,222 2,992 3,222 2,992
<OTHER-SE> 35,887 29,714 35,887 29,714
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 413,367 338,217 413,367 338,217
<INTEREST-LOAN> 6,474 5,605 18,589 15,797
<INTEREST-INVEST> 1,470 1,261 4,188 3,913
<INTEREST-OTHER> 3 2 136 40
<INTEREST-TOTAL> 7,953 6,877 22,948 19,794
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 3,299 2,775 9,638 8,217
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,955 3,313 11,319 9,463
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 3,998 3,564 11,629 10,331
<LOAN-LOSSES> 121 180 639 541
<SECURITIES-GAINS> 48 48 39 67
<EXPENSE-OTHER> 3,182 2,668 9,166 7,767
<INCOME-PRETAX> 1,748 1,628 5,044 4,822
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 1,162 1,056 3,348 3,168
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 0 0
<CHANGES> 0 0 0 0
<NET-INCOME> 1,162 1,056 3,348 3,168
<EPS-PRIMARY> .37 .35 1.07 1.06
<EPS-DILUTED> .37 .35 1.07 1.06
<YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.23 4.62 4.10 4.47
<LOANS-NON> 358 514 358 514
<LOANS-PAST> 301 290 301 290
<LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 0 0 0
<LOANS-PROBLEM> 6,997 2,708 6,997 2,708
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 3,438 2,596 3,445 2,282
<CHARGE-OFFS> 221 24 615 142
<RECOVERIES> 90 36 245 107
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 3,483 2,788 3,483 2,788
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 3,483 2,788 3,483 2,788
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 0 0 0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0 0 0 0