<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE DECEMBER
31, 1996, FORM 10K FOR FIRST PATRIOT BANKSHARES, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                           6,775
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         120,863
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 9,943
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     40,838
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                        127,868
<ALLOWANCE>                                      1,530
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 191,852
<DEPOSITS>                                     154,329
<SHORT-TERM>                                    19,994
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              1,819
<LONG-TERM>                                      1,185
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         5,052
<OTHER-SE>                                       9,473
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                  14,525
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 12,035
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                2,166
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   488
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                14,689
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               4,914
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               5,912
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            8,777
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      751
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  42
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  7,748
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,186
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       3,186
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,090
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .93
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .93
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    5.65
<LOANS-NON>                                          0
<LOANS-PAST>                                       737
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 1,332
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      553
<RECOVERIES>                                         0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                1,530
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             1,530
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                             49