<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FORM THE JUNE 30,
1997 FORM 10-Q OF HILLS BANCORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                          17,807
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 1,712
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    109,995
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          24,063
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            24,271
<LOANS>                                        407,642
<ALLOWANCE>                                      7,786
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 576,770
<DEPOSITS>                                     465,644
<SHORT-TERM>                                    21,084
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              4,037
<LONG-TERM>                                     30,795
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            6,897
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         9,042
<OTHER-SE>                                      39,271
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 576,770
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 16,556
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                3,958
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                    80
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                20,594
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               9,322
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              10,780
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            9,814
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      590
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               1,054
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  7,968
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  4,587
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       3,546
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,546
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.40
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.40
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                          0
<LOANS-PAST>                                       870
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 7,311
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      115
<RECOVERIES>                                         0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                7,786
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             7,786
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0