<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FIRST
BANK SYSTEM, INC. SEPTEMBER 30, 1996, 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                       2,990,000
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               628,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                76,000
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  3,778,000
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                     27,037,000
<ALLOWANCE>                                    521,400
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              36,843,000
<DEPOSITS>                                  25,008,000
<SHORT-TERM>                                 3,941,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                          1,060,000
<LONG-TERM>                                  3,443,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     87,000
<COMMON>                                       177,000
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,917,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              36,843,000
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              1,744,800
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              205,800
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                35,300
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             1,985,900
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             507,100
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             839,100
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        1,146,800
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  101,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                              15,000
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                              1,086,100
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                923,400
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     568,400
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   568,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     4.08
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     4.01
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.89
<LOANS-NON>                                    120,900
<LOANS-PAST>                                    43,300
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                   100
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               473,500
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  187,900
<RECOVERIES>                                    75,700
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              521,400
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0