<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK> 0000742279
<NAME> COMMUNITY BANKSHARES INC                   
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                       3,435,150
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                      22,178,622
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                             4,182,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  1,658,346
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                      11,959,010
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                        11,804,784
<LOANS>                                     66,157,949
<ALLOWANCE>                                    745,239
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              89,942,739
<DEPOSITS>                                  78,641,314
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            312,556
<LONG-TERM>                                    330,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     3,480,000
<OTHER-SE>                                   7,117,482
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              89,942,739
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              1,653,871
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              240,398
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                51,451
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             1,945,720
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             764,908
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             764,908
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        1,180,812
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   35,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                649,231
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                692,116
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     692,116
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   439,946
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .35
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    5.70
<LOANS-NON>                                    246,000
<LOANS-PAST>                                   571,000
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               762,478
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  132,372
<RECOVERIES>                                    80,133
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              745,239
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           745,239
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0