<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE DECEMBER
31, 1996 FORM 10-K OF HILLS BANCORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                          15,036
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 1,107
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    110,537
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          22,098
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            22,232
<LOANS>                                        375,575
<ALLOWANCE>                                      7,311
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 539,452
<DEPOSITS>                                     450,061
<SHORT-TERM>                                     6,071
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             10,190
<LONG-TERM>                                     25,795
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         8,997
<OTHER-SE>                                      38,338
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 539,452
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 29,724
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                7,307
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   485
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                37,516
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              17,762
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              19,951
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           17,565
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      754
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                (57)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 12,057
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  8,622
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       6,144
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,144
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     4.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     4.15
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.86
<LOANS-NON>                                        339
<LOANS-PAST>                                     1,092
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  6,689
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 6,740
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      971
<RECOVERIES>                                       438
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                7,311
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             7,311
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          1,085