<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION   EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS OF BANTA CORPORATION AS OF AND FOR THE THREE
MONTHS ENDED APRIL 3, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-03-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   APR-03-1999
<CASH>                                         2,780      
<SECURITIES>                                   25,338     
<RECEIVABLES>                                  202,956    
<ALLOWANCES>                                   4,090      
<INVENTORY>                                    77,474     
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               326,311    
<PP&E>                                         772,486    
<DEPRECIATION>                                 453,169    
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 741,870    
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          177,907    
<BONDS>                                        120,573    
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0          
<PREFERRED>                                    0          
<COMMON>                                       2,757      
<OTHER-SE>                                     397,781    
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   741,870    
<SALES>                                        309,286    
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               309,286    
<CGS>                                          247,591    
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  247,591    
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               42,304     
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0          
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             2,947      
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                16,012     
<INCOME-TAX>                                   6,300      
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            9,712      
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0          
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0          
<CHANGES>                                      0          
<NET-INCOME>                                   9,712     
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.35 <F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.35

<FN>
<F1> THE EPS UNDER THE "EPS-PRIMARY" TAG REPRESENTS BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
</FN>