<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFROMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 FORM 10-Q OF IOWA FIRST BANCSHARES CORP. AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          12,303
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 3,540
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     69,222
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                        205,249
<ALLOWANCE>                                      2,647
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 296,879
<DEPOSITS>                                     239,795
<SHORT-TERM>                                    27,707
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              2,121
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           200
<OTHER-SE>                                      27,056
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 296,879
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 12,250
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                3,013
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   314
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                15,577
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               6,701
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 957
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            7,919
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                        4
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 (1)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  5,581
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,592
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       2,446
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,446
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.36
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                          0
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 2,803
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      160
<RECOVERIES>                                         0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                2,647
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             2,647
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0