<ARTICLE> 9 <LEGEND> FORM 10-Q </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000708848 <NAME> FIRST CITIZENS <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <CASH> 96,354 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 37,927 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 584,746 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 624,158 <LOANS> 1,506,088 <ALLOWANCE> (27,558) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,321,518 <DEPOSITS> 1,905,413 <SHORT-TERM> 177,806 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 15,014 <LONG-TERM> 50,000 <COMMON> 4,641 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 3,282 <OTHER-SE> 161,362 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 2,321,518 <INTEREST-LOAN> 62,978 <INTEREST-INVEST> 16,981 <INTEREST-OTHER> 1,506 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 81,465 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 29,684 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 36,070 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 45,395 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 28 <LOAN-LOSSES> 2,282 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 38,658 <INCOME-PRETAX> 18,372 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 18,372 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,983 <EPS-PRIMARY> 12.81 <EPS-DILUTED> 12.81 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 7.81 <LOANS-NON> 2,700 <LOANS-PAST> 1,728 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 66 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 20,088 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 26,135 <CHARGE-OFFS> 1,683 <RECOVERIES> 824 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 27,558 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 27,558 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 10,524