<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
DECEMBER 31, 1997 FORM 10-K OF HILLS BANCORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                          15,508
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 2,447
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    114,244
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          23,840
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            24,230
<LOANS>                                        422,761
<ALLOWANCE>                                      8,010
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 603,102
<DEPOSITS>                                     479,770
<SHORT-TERM>                                     9,008
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             12,060
<LONG-TERM>                                     50,764
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            7,682
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         9,070
<OTHER-SE>                                      42,430
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 603,102
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 34,598
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                7,987
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   158
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                42,743
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              19,294
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              22,502
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           20,241
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    1,048
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 940
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 15,500
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,631
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       7,086
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     7,086
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     4.83
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     4.78
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.93
<LOANS-NON>                                          0
<LOANS-PAST>                                       954
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  9,566
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 7,311
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    1,128
<RECOVERIES>                                       779
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                8,010
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             8,010
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          1,421