<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
     FORM 10-Q
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                          0000708848
<NAME>                                         FIRST CITIZENS
       

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              dec-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 jan-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   jun-30-1997
<CASH>                                         103,765
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           8,950
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                21,800
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     19,247
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         506,354
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           507,263
<LOANS>                                      1,347,074
<ALLOWANCE>                                    (24,916)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,088,764
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,784,254
<SHORT-TERM>                                   139,514
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             12,953
<LONG-TERM>                                      8,750
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           0
<PREFERRED>                                      3,282
<COMMON>                                         4,646
<OTHER-SE>                                     135,365
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               2,088,764
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 56,810
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               14,302
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 1,277
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                72,389
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              27,195
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              31,319
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           41,070
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    2,400
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 35,122
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 15,058
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      15,058
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 0
<CHANGES>                                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     9,702
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    10.35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    10.35
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    7.95
<LOANS-NON>                                      2,727
<LOANS-PAST>                                     1,154
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                    84
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                     21
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                23,483
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    1,643
<RECOVERIES>                                       676
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               24,916
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            24,916
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                             0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         13,247