<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MARCH 31,
1999 FORM 10-Q OF HILLS BANCORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                          15,959
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                12,736
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    129,354
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          25,123
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            25,653
<LOANS>                                        490,352
<ALLOWANCE>                                      9,046
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 691,505
<DEPOSITS>                                     536,236
<SHORT-TERM>                                     9,072
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              5,058
<LONG-TERM>                                     75,732
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            9,627
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         9,166
<OTHER-SE>                                      46,614
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 691,505
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                  9,663
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                2,130
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   261
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                12,054
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               5,090
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               6,268
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            5,786
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      204
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  4,247
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,990
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       2,079
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,079
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.39
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                          0
<LOANS-PAST>                                       975
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  9,085
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 8,856
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                       14
<RECOVERIES>                                         0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                9,046
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             9,046
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0