<ARTICLE> 9                     
<CIK> 0000855876                
<NAME> CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC 
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000              
                                
                                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
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<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 (4)
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