<TABLE> <S> <C>



                      <ARTICLE>                     9
                      <LEGEND>                      FORM 10-Q
                      <CIK>                         0000708848
                      <NAME>                        FIRST CITIZENS
                      <MULTIPLIER>                      1,000
                             
                      <S>                                                   <C>
                      <PERIOD-TYPE>                                          3-MOS
                      <FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                             DEC-31-1996
                      <PERIOD-END>                                                  DEC-31-1996
                      <PERIOD-START>                                                JAN-01-1996
                      <CASH>                                                         103,844
                      <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                          11,300
                      <FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                                     0
                      <TRADING-ASSETS>                                                     0
                      <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                     17,653
                      <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                         467,798
                      <INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                           468,990
                      <LOANS>                                                      1,269,779
                      <ALLOWANCE>                                                   (23,483)
                      <TOTAL-ASSETS>                                               1,947,699
                      <DEPOSITS>                                                   1,661,072
                      <SHORT-TERM>                                                   132,891
                      <LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                             11,095
                      <LONG-TERM>                                                     10,000
                      <PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                0
                      <PREFERRED>                                                      3,282
                      <COMMON>                                                         4,646
                      <OTHER-SE>                                                     124,713
                      <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                               1,947,699
                      <INTEREST-LOAN>                                                104,351
                      <INTEREST-INVEST>                                               28,971
                      <INTEREST-OTHER>                                                   895
                      <INTEREST-TOTAL>                                               134,217
                      <INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                              51,170
                      <INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              57,552
                      <INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                           76,665
                      <LOAN-LOSSES>                                                    4,574
                      <SECURITIES-GAINS>                                                   0
                      <EXPENSE-OTHER>                                                 65,073
                      <INCOME-PRETAX>                                                 29,275
                      <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                                      29,275
                      <EXTRAORDINARY>                                                      0
                      <CHANGES>                                                            0
                      <NET-INCOME>                                                    18,954
                      <EPS-PRIMARY>                                                    20.02
                      <EPS-DILUTED>                                                    20.02
                      <YIELD-ACTUAL>                                                    8.02
                      <LOANS-NON>                                                      2,920
                      <LOANS-PAST>                                                     2,261
                      <LOANS-TROUBLED>                                                   128
                      <LOANS-PROBLEM>                                                    423
                      <ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                                21,153
                      <CHARGE-OFFS>                                                    3,354
                      <RECOVERIES>                                                     1,110
                      <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                               23,483
                      <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                            23,483
                      <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                                  0
                      <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                         11,835
                              


</TABLE>