<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
REGISTRANTS CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000877987
<NAME> FIRST COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                         890,206
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                       3,684,373
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,396,993
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         305,199
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           302,629
<LOANS>                                     59,419,228
<ALLOWANCE>                                    571,254
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              71,925,277
<DEPOSITS>                                  62,151,245
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            189,444
<LONG-TERM>                                  2,603,315
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     6,181,486
<OTHER-SE>                                     605,941
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               6,787,427
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              2,627,825
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              203,464
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               142,282
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             2,973,571
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                           1,436,732
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,584,234
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        1,389,337
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  106,500
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               5,630
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                              1,074,199
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                326,667
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     326,667
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   236,649
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .25
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .25
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                     .70
<LOANS-NON>                                    283,219
<LOANS-PAST>                                   108,848
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                297,722
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               518,403
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                       54
<RECOVERIES>                                         2
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              571,254
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           571,254
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0