<ARTICLE> 9 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE DECEMBER 31, 1999 FORM 10-K OF HILLS BANCORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999 <CASH> 21,765 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 206 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 131,961 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 18,307 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 18,362 <LOANS> 575,131 <ALLOWANCE> 9,750 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 773,966 <DEPOSITS> 562,086 <SHORT-TERM> 26,714 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 18,249 <LONG-TERM> 95,700 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 10,953 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 10,214 <OTHER-SE> 50,050 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 773,966 <INTEREST-LOAN> 41,933 <INTEREST-INVEST> 8,733 <INTEREST-OTHER> 455 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 51,121 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 20,826 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 26,313 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 24,808 <LOAN-LOSSES> 900 <SECURITIES-GAINS> (315) <EXPENSE-OTHER> 18,309 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,036 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 8,466 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,466 <EPS-BASIC> 5.70 <EPS-DILUTED> 5.66 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 3.83 <LOANS-NON> 0 <LOANS-PAST> 1,320 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 9,265 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 8,856 <CHARGE-OFFS> 763 <RECOVERIES> 757 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 9,750 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 9,750 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0