EXHIBIT 32.1

                           CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350


         I, Terrance M. McCarthy, President and Chief Executive Officer of First
Banks,  Inc.  (the  "Company"),   certify,   pursuant  to  Section  906  of  the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that:

          (1)  The  Quarterly  Report  on  Form  10-Q  of the  Company  for  the
               quarterly  period  ended  June  30,  2008  (the  "Report")  fully
               complies with the  requirements of Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the
               Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

          (2)  The information  contained in the Report fairly presents,  in all
               material  respects,   the  financial  condition  and  results  of
               operations of the Company.


Date:  August 13, 2008

                                  By: /s/ Terrance M. McCarthy
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                          Terrance M. McCarthy
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer
                                          (Principal Executive Officer)