<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
SEPTEMBER 30, 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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                          21,381
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 5,510
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    134,337
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          24,504
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            24,602
<LOANS>                                        632,622
<ALLOWANCE>                                     10,048
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 841,778
<DEPOSITS>                                     621,404
<SHORT-TERM>                                    12,377
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              5,772
<LONG-TERM>                                    125,669
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           11,735
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        10,214
<OTHER-SE>                                      54,607
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 841,778
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 36,813
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                6,851
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   346
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                44,010
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              17,870
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              23,998
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           20,012
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      711
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 14,804
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 10,037
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       6,939
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,939
<EPS-BASIC>                                       4.63
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     4.60
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                         98
<LOANS-PAST>                                     2,215
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  8,908
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 9,750
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      413
<RECOVERIES>                                         0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               10,048
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            10,048
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0