<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
     FORM 10-K
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                          0000708848
<NAME>                                         FIRST CITIZENS
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                          12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                         JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                           DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                                 126,276
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                   7,700
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                        11,900
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                             0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                             31,913
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                 556,496
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                   558,228
<LOANS>                                              1,428,437
<ALLOWANCE>                                            (26,135)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       2,250,477
<DEPOSITS>                                           1,879,420
<SHORT-TERM>                                           184,168
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                     13,988
<LONG-TERM>                                             14,483
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                              3,282
<COMMON>                                                 4,646
<OTHER-SE>                                             150,490
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                       2,250,477
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                        118,427
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                       31,207
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                         1,503
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                       151,137
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                      56,844
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      65,474
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                   85,663
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                            4,241
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                          51
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                         72,658
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                         33,545
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                              33,545
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                              0
<CHANGES>                                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                                            21,770
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            23.24
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            23.24                     
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                            7.95
<LOANS-NON>                                              2,653
<LOANS-PAST>                                             1,497
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                            78
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                         21,012
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                        23,483
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                            3,291
<RECOVERIES>                                             1,702
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                       26,135
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                    26,135
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                          0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                  8,914
        

</TABLE>