<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                         452,360
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           7,692
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                62,201
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                44,375
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  1,513,420
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         890,051
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           885,446
<LOANS>                                      6,599,482
<ALLOWANCE>                                    133,562
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               9,873,845
<DEPOSITS>                                   7,419,991
<SHORT-TERM>                                 1,154,541
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            130,479
<LONG-TERM>                                    349,766
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       147,840
<OTHER-SE>                                     671,228
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               9,873,845
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                268,251
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               71,819
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 5,883
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               345,953
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             139,574
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             176,908
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          169,045
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                        0
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               1,507
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                134,109
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 98,401
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      98,401
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    60,689
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.82
<LOANS-NON>                                     17,567
<LOANS-PAST>                                    13,797
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 88,186
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               132,415
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   12,295
<RECOVERIES>                                    11,316
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              133,562
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            68,994
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         64,568