<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9  
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF FIRST AMERICAN CORP. FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER
30, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                         521,296
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           8,592
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               110,781
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                95,647
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  1,495,760
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         888,462
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           887,798
<LOANS>                                      6,580,769
<ALLOWANCE>                                    128,225
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,028,365
<DEPOSITS>                                   7,551,665
<SHORT-TERM>                                 1,153,294
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            144,918
<LONG-TERM>                                    340,497
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       147,783
<OTHER-SE>                                     690,208
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              10,028,365
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                406,537
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              111,203
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 8,215
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               525,955
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             210,614
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             267,619
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          258,336
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                        0
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               1,522
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                237,286
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                142,234
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     142,234
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    88,108
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.98
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.85
<LOANS-NON>                                     14,064
<LOANS-PAST>                                     8,335
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 76,451
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               132,415
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   21,784
<RECOVERIES>                                    15,468
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              128,225
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            65,461
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         62,764
        

</TABLE>