<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FIRST
BANK SYSTEM, INC. DECEMBER 31, 1996, 10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                       2,413,000
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               827,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               146,000
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  3,555,000
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                     27,128,000
<ALLOWANCE>                                    516,500
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              36,489,000
<DEPOSITS>                                  24,379,000
<SHORT-TERM>                                 4,097,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            938,000
<LONG-TERM>                                  3,553,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       177,000
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,876,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              36,489,000
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              2,339,300
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              267,000
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                47,600
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             2,653,900
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             673,100
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,120,900
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        1,533,000
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  136,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                              15,000
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                              1,388,100
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              1,194,600
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     739,800
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   739,800
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     5.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     5.25
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.89
<LOANS-NON>                                    120,300
<LOANS-PAST>                                    49,600
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                   100
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               473,500
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  253,000
<RECOVERIES>                                   100,200
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              516,500
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0