<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000310979 <NAME> First Banks, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> Sep-30-1999 <CASH> 27,294 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 367 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 16,000 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 91,851 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 1,898 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 1,795 <LOANS> 713,555 <ALLOWANCE> 14,717 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 904,382 <DEPOSITS> 774,743 <SHORT-TERM> 7,243 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 7,859 <LONG-TERM> 44,202 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 956 <OTHER-SE> 69,379 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 904,382 <INTEREST-LOAN> 44,852 <INTEREST-INVEST> 4,862 <INTEREST-OTHER> 550 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 50,264 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 18,045 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 18,648 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 31,616 <LOAN-LOSSES> 303 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 174 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 24,568 <INCOME-PRETAX> 10,573 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 10,573 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,079 <EPS-BASIC> 1.06 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.06 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.69 <LOANS-NON> 4,328 <LOANS-PAST> 97 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 4,234 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 12,127 <CHARGE-OFFS> 1,009 <RECOVERIES> 1,830 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 14,717 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 9,220 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 5,497