<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FIRST
COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET FOR THE QUARTER
ENDING MARCH 31, 1996 AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNING FOR THE
THREE MONTHS THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                         637,288
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                      56,605,765
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                          0
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                     56,646,194
<ALLOWANCE>                                    527,352
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              72,843,260
<DEPOSITS>                                  61,327,900
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             65,359
<LONG-TERM>                                  4,603,315
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     6,181,486
<OTHER-SE>                                     456,433
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              72,843,260
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              1,286,246
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              101,645
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                69,112
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             1,457,003
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             724,226
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             801,549
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          655,454
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   52,500
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               2,880
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                544,321
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                118,400
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     118,400
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    84,549
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .09
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .09
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    8.44
<LOANS-NON>                                    283,000
<LOANS-PAST>                                    26,000
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                257,995
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               518,000
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   45,000
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,000
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              527,352
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           527,352
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0