<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<CIK> 0000855876
<NAME> CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                                         
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998                        
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998                        
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998                        
<CASH>                                          31,773                        
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           2,208                        
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 4,700                        
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0                        
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    393,713                        
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          60,815                        
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            61,449                        
<LOANS>                                        786,790                        
<ALLOWANCE>                                     13,529                        
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,331,113                        
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,009,461                        
<SHORT-TERM>                                   104,771                        
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             10,863                        
<LONG-TERM>                                     86,050                        
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                        
<PREFERRED>                                          0                        
<COMMON>                                        24,827                        
<OTHER-SE>                                      95,073                        
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,331,113                        
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 18,062                        
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                7,099                        
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   318                        
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                25,479                        
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               9,608                        
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              12,462                        
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           13,017                        
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      425                        
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  31                        
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 10,791                        
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,951                        
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       3,951                        
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                        
<CHANGES>                                            0                        
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,765                        
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .20                        
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .20                        
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    8.31                        
<LOANS-NON>                                      1,247                        
<LOANS-PAST>                                     1,897                        
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                   210                        
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  4,839                        
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                13,559                        
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      674                        
<RECOVERIES>                                       219                        
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               13,529                        
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             1,989                        
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                        
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         11,540                        
        

</TABLE>