<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