<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR INDEPENDENT BANKSHARES, INC. FOR
THE NINE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                      12,594,000
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                            13,225,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                 31,353,000
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                      81,831,000
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                        81,835,000
<LOANS>                                    140,717,000<F1>
<ALLOWANCE>                                  1,290,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             262,553,000
<DEPOSITS>                                 240,279,000
<SHORT-TERM>                                   419,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                          1,400,000
<LONG-TERM>                                    404,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     57,000
<COMMON>                                       490,000
<OTHER-SE>                                  19,504,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>             262,553,000
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              8,999,000
<INTEREST-INVEST>                            4,007,000
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               646,000
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                            13,652,000
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                           6,401,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           6,453,000
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        7,199,000
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  210,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                              6,076,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              2,291,000
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                   2,291,000
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 1,605,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .86
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .79
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.16
<LOANS-NON>                                    105,000
<LOANS-PAST>                                   127,000
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               111,000
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               793,000
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  409,000
<RECOVERIES>                                   301,000
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                            1,290,000
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                         1,290,000
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        384,000
<FN>
<F1>NET OF UNEARNED INCOME ON INSTALLMENT LOANS OF 1,792,000.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>