<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFROMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MARCH
31, 1996 10-Q FOR 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-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                          10,163
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                11,345
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    103,540
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          22,180
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            22,371
<LOANS>                                        328,501
<ALLOWANCE>                                      6,842
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 486,151
<DEPOSITS>                                     394,141
<SHORT-TERM>                                     9,728
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              3,380
<LONG-TERM>                                     30,727
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         8,925
<OTHER-SE>                                      33,531
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 486,151
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                  6,999
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                1,695
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   168
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                 8,862
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               4,243
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               4,832
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            4,030
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      180
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  2,807
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,995
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       1,426
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,426
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .97
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .97
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                        389
<LOANS-PAST>                                     1,475
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 6,740
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                       78
<RECOVERIES>                                         0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                6,842
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             6,842
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0