<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000356171 <NAME> TRICO BANCSHARES <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 28,761 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 414,782 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 8,200 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 72,198 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 112,874 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 109,722 <LOANS> 329,575 <ALLOWANCE> 5,706 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 578,606 <DEPOSITS> 491,008 <SHORT-TERM> 0 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 9,066 <LONG-TERM> 24,289 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 44,408 <OTHER-SE> 9,835 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 578,606 <INTEREST-LOAN> 8,563 <INTEREST-INVEST> 2,731 <INTEREST-OTHER> 311 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 11,605 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 4,153 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,535 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 7,070 <LOAN-LOSSES> 40 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 5,505 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,991 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 1,744 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,744 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.37 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.38 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.67 <LOANS-NON> 2,717 <LOANS-PAST> 20 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 5,580 <CHARGE-OFFS> 123 <RECOVERIES> 209 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 40 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 5,706 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0