<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000944745 <NAME> FIRST CITIZENS BANC CORP <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 13,753,871 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 8,148,000 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 59,526,663 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 9,238,939 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 9,353,073 <LOANS> 204,073,779 <ALLOWANCE> 2,681,049 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 309,236,063 <DEPOSITS> 248,868,354 <SHORT-TERM> 8,077,900 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 2,132,572 <LONG-TERM> 15,382,102 <COMMON> 15,257,520 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 19,517,615 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 309,236,063 <INTEREST-LOAN> 4,381,966 <INTEREST-INVEST> 989,978 <INTEREST-OTHER> 123,111 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 5,495,055 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 2,003,429 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,300,166 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 3,194,889 <LOAN-LOSSES> 98,500 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 6,250 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 2,762,197 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,259,917 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 911,615 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 911,615 <EPS-PRIMARY> .30 <EPS-DILUTED> .30 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.74 <LOANS-NON> 496,000 <LOANS-PAST> 1,159,000 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 2,642,000 <CHARGE-OFFS> 115,635 <RECOVERIES> 56,184 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 2,681,049 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 2,681,049 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 1,550,000