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  September 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: November 13, 2008

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


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