<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE AUDITED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR INDEPENDENT BANKSHARES, INC. AS OF AND FOR THE YEAR
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000318870
<NAME> INDEPENDENT BANKSHARES, INC,
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                      14,518,000
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                            24,900,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                 22,501,000
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                      69,794,000<F1>
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                        69,877,000<F1>
<LOANS>                                    140,853,000<F2>
<ALLOWANCE>                                  1,173,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             264,574,000
<DEPOSITS>                                 242,801,000
<SHORT-TERM>                                    55,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                          1,189,000
<LONG-TERM>                                      2,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     56,000
<COMMON>                                       494,000
<OTHER-SE>                                  19,977,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>             264,574,000
<INTEREST-LOAN>                             12,236,000
<INTEREST-INVEST>                            5,176,000
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               912,000
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                            18,324,000
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                           8,600,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           8,659,000
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        9,665,000
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  250,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                              8,237,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              3,087,000
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                   3,087,000
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 2,110,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.03
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.13
<LOANS-NON>                                     70,000
<LOANS-PAST>                                   121,000
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               104,000
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               793,000
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  581,000
<RECOVERIES>                                   316,000
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                            1,173,000
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                         1,173,000<F3>
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        330,000
<FN>
<F1>Includes investments held for sale.
<F2>Net of unearned income on installment loans of $1,462,000.
<F3>Includes unallocated portion of the allowance.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>