<ARTICLE>   9         
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FIRST
AMERICAN CORPORATION'S SEPTEMBER 30, 1994, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FILED IN ITS
10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000         
       
                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    9-mos         
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                   Dec-31-1994         
<PERIOD-START>                                      Jan-01-1994         
<PERIOD-END>                                        Sep-30-1994         
<CASH>                                                  395,640         
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                    4,166         
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                         80,282         
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                         18,640         
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                             471,359         
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                1,514,079         
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                  1,470,300         
<LOANS>                                               4,699,129         
<ALLOWANCE>                                             137,587         
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                        7,367,347         
<DEPOSITS>                                            5,771,198         
<SHORT-TERM>                                            692,855         
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                     154,382         
<LONG-TERM>                                             152,052         
<COMMON>                                                130,674         
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                         0         
<PREFERRED>                                                   0         
<OTHER-SE>                                              466,186         
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                        7,367,347         
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                         252,144         
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                        89,136         
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                          3,531         
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                        344,811         
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                      114,259         
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      136,844         
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                   207,967         
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                                 0         
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                         (284)         
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                         175,571         
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                         107,121         
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                              107,121         
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                               0         
<CHANGES>                                                     0         
<NET-INCOME>                                             66,688         
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                              2.56         
<EPS-DILUTED>                                              2.56         
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                             4.24         
<LOANS-NON>                                              14,075         
<LOANS-PAST>                                              3,822         
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                              0         
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                          78,278         
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                        134,447         
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                            10,549         
<RECOVERIES>                                             13,689         
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                       137,587         
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                     73,318         
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                           0         
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                  64,269