EXHIBIT 32.2

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

      I, Lisa K. Vansickle, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial 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/ Lisa K. Vansickle
                          ------------------------------------------------------
                               Lisa K. Vansickle
                               Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                               (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


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