1 EXHIBIT 12.1 2 Ratio-Fixed Ch. First Banks Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges September 30, 1996 Nine months 1996 1995 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Net income before tax and minority interest 16,215 28,193 34,156 35,807 34,020 28,540 25,851 Add back: Interest: With deposits 106,580 106,350 144,945 70,670 58,058 79,529 106,848 Without deposits 13,077 23,338 28,883 6,581 972 4,239 4,630 Rent expense 3,200 2,257 3,174 1,079 1,000 1,303 1,652 Earnings base: Without deposits 32,492 53,788 66,213 43,467 35,992 34,082 32,133 With deposits 125,995 136,800 182,275 107,556 93,078 109,372 134,351 Preferred stock dividends 4,237 4,237 5,736 5,735 5,766 1,951 906 Rent expense 3,200 2,257 3,174 1,079 1,000 1,303 1,652 Interest: Deposits included 106,580 106,350 144,945 70,670 58,058 79,529 106,848 Deposits excluded 13,077 23,338 28,883 6,581 972 4,239 4,630 Fixed charges: Including interest on deposits 114,017 112,844 153,855 77,484 64,824 82,783 109,406 Excluding interest on deposits 20,514 29,832 37,793 13,395 7,738 7,493 7,188 Ratio: Including interest on deposits 1.11% 1.21% 1.18% 1.39% 1.44% 1.32% 1.23% Excluding interest on deposits 1.58% 1.80% 1.75% 3.25% 4.65% 4.55% 4.47%