<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000710507 <NAME> First Banks, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> Jan-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> Mar-31-1999 <CASH> 148,432 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 2,085 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 27,700 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 442,272 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 22,650 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 23,376 <LOANS> 3,764,408 <ALLOWANCE> 65,239 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,634,634 <DEPOSITS> 4,064,425 <SHORT-TERM> 67,376 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 108,247 <LONG-TERM> 127,486 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 13,063 <COMMON> 5,915 <OTHER-SE> 248,122 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 4,634,634 <INTEREST-LOAN> 74,675 <INTEREST-INVEST> 7,662 <INTEREST-OTHER> 223 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 82,560 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 35,948 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 38,966 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 43,594 <LOAN-LOSSES> 2,490 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 374 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 35,487 <INCOME-PRETAX> 15,220 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 15,220 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 9,271 <EPS-PRIMARY> 383.52 <EPS-DILUTED> 372.57 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.09 <LOANS-NON> 45,231 <LOANS-PAST> 3,674 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 71,632 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 60,970 <CHARGE-OFFS> 1,911 <RECOVERIES> 2,224 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 65,239 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 50,988 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 14,251