<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000944745 <NAME> FIRST CITIZENS BANC CORP <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 12,314,467 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 7,462,000 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 57,680,659 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 7,616,683 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 7,687,591 <LOANS> 218,681,782 <ALLOWANCE> 2,809,282 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 317,876,865 <DEPOSITS> 254,247,611 <SHORT-TERM> 11,242,912 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 1,491,628 <LONG-TERM> 14,790,282 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 15,257,520 <OTHER-SE> 20,846,912 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 317,876,865 <INTEREST-LOAN> 13,675,600 <INTEREST-INVEST> 2,877,777 <INTEREST-OTHER> 358,493 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 16,911,870 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 6,206,641 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7,095,687 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 9,816,183 <LOAN-LOSSES> 319,500 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 165,323 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 8,527,769 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,950,373 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 2,807,910 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,807,910 <EPS-PRIMARY> .92 <EPS-DILUTED> .92 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.68 <LOANS-NON> 1,258,000 <LOANS-PAST> 1,654,000 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 2,642,000 <CHARGE-OFFS> 268,844 <RECOVERIES> 116,626 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 2,809,282 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 2,809,282 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 1,591,000