<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