<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
SEPTEMBER 30, 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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                          17,344
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                   206
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    131,036
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          24,045
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            24,204
<LOANS>                                        545,624
<ALLOWANCE>                                      9,227
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 738,568
<DEPOSITS>                                     548,843
<SHORT-TERM>                                    26,689
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              4,888
<LONG-TERM>                                     88,700
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           10,911
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         9,785
<OTHER-SE>                                      48,772
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 738,568
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 30,624
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                6,472
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   435
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                37,531
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              15,498
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              19,221
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           18,310
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      612
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               (214)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 13,391
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,072
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       6,278
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,278
<EPS-BASIC>                                       4.20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     4.17
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                          0
<LOANS-PAST>                                     1,083
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  9,343
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 8,856
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      241
<RECOVERIES>                                         0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                9,227
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             9,227
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0