<ARTICLE> 9 <LEGEND> Financial Data Schedule Submitted Under Item 601(a)(27) of Regulation S-B This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from The First Bancshares, Inc. unaudited financial statements for the period ended June 30, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 JUN-30-1998 <CASH> $970 $665 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> $0 $0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> $1,870 $2,875 <TRADING-ASSETS> $0 $0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> $3,785 $5,987 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> $0 $0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> $3,797 $5,993 <LOANS> $17,487 $23,345 <ALLOWANCE> $194 $264 <TOTAL-ASSETS> $27,527 $36,539 <DEPOSITS> $21,058 $30,011 <SHORT-TERM> $101 $151 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> $0 $0 <LONG-TERM> $0 $0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> $0 $0 <PREFERRED> $0 $0 <COMMON> $722 $722 <OTHER-SE> $5,646 $6,377 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> $27,527 $36,539 <INTEREST-LOAN> $1,141 $1,171 <INTEREST-INVEST> $382 $171 <INTEREST-OTHER> $0 $34 <INTEREST-TOTAL> $1,523 $1,376 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> $641 $632 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> $641 $664 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> $725 $712 <LOAN-LOSSES> $0 $0 <SECURITIES-GAINS> $12 $8 <EXPENSE-OTHER> $1,203 $722 <INCOME-PRETAX> ($262) $13 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> ($262) $13 <EXTRAORDINARY> $0 $0 <CHANGES> $0 $0 <NET-INCOME> ($262) $13 <EPS-PRIMARY> ($.36) $.02 <EPS-DILUTED> ($.36) $.02 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 0 0 <LOANS-NON> $0 $0 <LOANS-PAST> $0 $2 <LOANS-TROUBLED> $0 $0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> $0 $0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> $194 $264 <CHARGE-OFFS> $0 $0 <RECOVERIES> $0 $0 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> $0 $0 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> $194 $264 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> $0 $0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> $0 $0