<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 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-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                           7,633
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 3,650
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     54,109
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                        166,306
<ALLOWANCE>                                      1,731
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 242,616
<DEPOSITS>                                     221,880
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              1,549
<LONG-TERM>                                      1,076
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         2,717
<OTHER-SE>                                      15,394
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 242,616
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 11,491
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                1,968
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   475
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                13,934
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               6,496
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               6,569
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            7,365
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      360
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               7,005
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  5,813
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,009
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       3,009
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,011
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.09
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                         53
<LOANS-PAST>                                       473
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  2,587
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 1,704
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      356
<RECOVERIES>                                        23
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                1,731
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             1,731
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
        

</TABLE>