UNITED STATES
               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                
                     WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
                                
                                
                                
                            FORM 8-K
                                
                         CURRENT REPORT
                                
                                
             Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                 Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported):  April 16, 1998
                                
                                
                   FIRST COMMERCE CORPORATION
     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                
                                
     LOUISIANA               0-7931              72-0701203
(State or other         (Commission File        (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of             Number)            Identification
incorporation)                                     Number)



 201 ST. CHARLES AVE., 29TH FLOOR, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA  70170
       (Address of principal executive offices - Zip Code)
                                
                                
                                
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (504) 623-1371
                                
                                
                               N/A
  (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (c) Exhibits

  Exhibit
    No.             Document Description
  -------      --------------------------------------             
   99(a)       Press Release issued on April 16, 1998



                        SIGNATURE




Pursuant  to the requirements of the Securities  Exchange
Act  of  1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report
to  be  signed on its behalf by the undersigned  hereunto
duly authorized.


                       FIRST COMMERCE CORPORATION
                       (Registrant)


                       By: /s/ Thomas L. Callicutt, Jr.
                          -------------------------------
                           Thomas L. Callicutt, Jr.
                           Executive Vice President,
                           Controller and Principal Accounting
                           Officer
                            
                            

Dated: April 20, 1998



                      INDEX TO EXHIBITS
                              

 Exhibit                                              Sequential
   No.          Document Description                   Page No.
 -------     ---------------------------------------  ----------   
  99(a)      Press Release issued on April 16, 1998        5