<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                            9
<CIK>                         0000814178
<NAME>                        FIRST NATIONAL BANKSHARES CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. DOLLARS
       

<S>                                            <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                        9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                    1.00000
<CASH>                                               3,754
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                              66,957
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     4,540
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                         0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                          5,038
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                              11,323
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                11,387
<LOANS>                                             66,977
<ALLOWANCE>                                            613
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      94,740
<DEPOSITS>                                          77,131
<SHORT-TERM>                                         2,437
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                  1,010
<LONG-TERM>                                          5,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               963
<OTHER-SE>                                           8,197
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                      94,740
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                      4,279
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                      806
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                        92
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                     5,177
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                   2,015
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   2,223
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                2,954
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                           22
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                       0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                      2,384
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                        868
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                             868
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                           550
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         2.86
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         2.81
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                        4.84
<LOANS-NON>                                            851
<LOANS-PAST>                                             0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                         0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                          0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                       654
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                          105
<RECOVERIES>                                            42
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                      613
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                   613
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                  0

        

</TABLE>