<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
REGISTRANTS CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000877987
<NAME> FIRST COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                         975,149
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                       2,299,263
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,397,567
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                       2,642,684
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                         2,616,684
<LOANS>                                     63,313,239
<ALLOWANCE>                                    608,205
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              74,495,351
<DEPOSITS>                                  64,617,296
<SHORT-TERM>                                 2,481,830
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            485,978
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                     6,181,486
<OTHER-SE>                                     556,384
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              74,495,351
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              4,057,157
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              455,113
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             4,512,270
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                           2,157,964
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           2,342,324
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        2,169,946
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  162,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               5,630
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                              1,962,090
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                226,149
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     226,149
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   186,579
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .20
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.06
<LOANS-NON>                                    238,287
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                726,319
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               518,000
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   77,000
<RECOVERIES>                                     5,000
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              608,000
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           608,205
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0