Exhibit 12.1
                         First Citizens BancShares, Inc.            
        Statement Re Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges


        
                                                                            Six Months
                                                                          Ended June 30,    
                                                                --------------------------------
                                                                     1998            1997          
                                                                     ----            ----          
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
     EXCLUDING INTEREST ON DEPOSITS:

     Net income                                                    $ 33,205         34,176      
     Income taxes                                                    18,153         19,376      
                                                                --------------------------------

     Income before income taxes                         (a)          51,358         53,552      
                                                                --------------------------------

     Interest expense                                               145,090        126,248      
     Less: interest on deposits                                     128,189        116,715      
                                                                --------------------------------

     Fixed charges, excluding interest on deposits      (b)         $16,901          9,533      
                                                                --------------------------------

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
     excluding interest on deposits                [(a)+(b)]/(b)      4.04x          6.62x   
                                                                    ======         ====== 


                                                                                       Year Ended December 31,                 
                                                                ------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                     1997           1996         1995        1994         1993 
                                                                     ----           ----         ----        ----         ---- 
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES                                                                                            
     EXCLUDING INTEREST ON DEPOSITS:                                                                                          
                                                                                                                              
     Net income                                                      70,558         65,467      56,906      50,969       55,585    
     Income taxes                                                    39,492         36,207      30,423      26,867       28,641    
                                                                  ------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                                                                                
     Income before income taxes                         (a)         110,050        101,674      87,329      77,836       84,226    
                                                                  ------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                                                                               
     Interest expense                                               268,013        248,250     224,664     148,126      137,934    
     Less: interest on deposits                                     243,749        230,905     207,234     137,292      130,354    
                                                                  ------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                                                                               
     Fixed charges, excluding interest on deposits      (b)          24,264         17,345      17,430      10,834        7,580    
                                                                  ------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                                                                               
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges                                                                       
     excluding interest on deposits                [(a)+(b)]/(b)      5.54x          6.86x       6.01x       8.18x       12.11x 
                                                                    ======       ======      ======      ======      ======


                                                                            Six Months
                                                                          Ended June 30,    
                                                                --------------------------------
                                                                     1998            1997          
                                                                     ----            ----              

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
     INCLUDING INTEREST ON DEPOSITS:

     Net income                                                    $ 33,205         34,176       
     Income taxes                                                    18,153         19,376       
                                                                ---------------------------------

     Income before income taxes                         (a)          51,358         53,552       
                                                                ---------------------------------
                                     
     Fixed charges (interest expense)                   (b)         145,090        126,248       
                                                                ---------------------------------

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
     including interest on deposits                [(a)+(b)]/(b)      1.35x          1.42x    
                                                                    ======         ======  



                                                                                       Year Ended December 31,                 
                                                                ------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                      1997           1996        1995        1994         1993 
                                                                      ----           ----        ----        ----         ---- 
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES   
     INCLUDING INTEREST ON DEPOSITS: 
                                     
     Net income                                                      70,558         65,467      56,906      50,969       55,585 
     Income taxes                                                    39,492         36,207      30,423      26,867       28,641    
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                                                                               
     Income before income taxes                         (a)         110,050        101,674      87,329      77,836       84,226    
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                                                                               
     Fixed charges (interest expense)                   (b)         268,013        248,250     224,664     148,126      137,934    
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                                                                               
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges                                                                                             
     including interest on deposits                [(a)+(b)]/(b)      1.41x          1.41x       1.39x       1.53x        1.61x 
                                                                    ======         ======      ======      ======       =====