<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MARCH
31, 2000 FORM 10-Q OF HILLS BANCORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<CASH>                                          19,692
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                15,210
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    132,509
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          25,671
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            25,644
<LOANS>                                        589,553
<ALLOWANCE>                                      9,799
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 803,362
<DEPOSITS>                                     581,057
<SHORT-TERM>                                    11,769
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              5,815
<LONG-TERM>                                    133,700
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           11,109
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        10,214
<OTHER-SE>                                      49,698
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 803,362
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 11,638
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                2,249
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   172
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                14,059
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               5,406
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               7,492
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            6,567
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      273
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  4,895
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,188
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       2,204
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,204
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.47
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.46
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                          0
<LOANS-PAST>                                     2,103
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  8,367
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 9,750
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      224
<RECOVERIES>                                         0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                9,799
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             9,799
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0