<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 FORM 10-Q FOR HILLS BANCORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                          14,251
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                19,796
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    120,610
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          21,976
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            22,518
<LOANS>                                        455,500
<ALLOWANCE>                                      8,483
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 654,230
<DEPOSITS>                                     502,248
<SHORT-TERM>                                    20,326
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              4,272
<LONG-TERM>                                     63,732
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         9,070
<OTHER-SE>                                      45,780
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 654,230
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 28,108
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                6,083
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   893
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                35,084
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              15,253
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              18,787
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           16,297
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      712
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 12,148
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  7,633
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       5,396
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,396
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.68
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.62
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                          0
<LOANS-PAST>                                     1,825
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  7,996
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 8,010
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      239
<RECOVERIES>                                         0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                8,483
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             8,483
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0