<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                            9
<NAME>                                       First Citizens Corporation
<CIK>                                        0001013239
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
<S>                                            <C>               <C>  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  9-MOS             9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              MAR-31-1998       MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 APR-01-1997       APR-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1997       DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                          11,190            11,215
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           8,955             1,393
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                15,230             2,860
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                 0                   0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     10,071             7,527
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                           2,522             5,417
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            29,865            17,096
<LOANS>                                        258,180           196,607
<ALLOWANCE>                                      3,908             2,848
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 352,233           257,288
<DEPOSITS>                                     303,948           213,276
<SHORT-TERM>                                      0                8,558
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              2,415             3,272
<LONG-TERM>                                     10,328             8,074
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                             0                  0
<PREFERRED>                                       0                  0
<COMMON>                                         2,803             1,599
<OTHER-SE>                                      32,739            22,509
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                  35,542           257,288
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 18,507            11,126
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                1,569               845
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   508               272
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                20,585            12,244
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               8,533             5,290
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               9,439             5,748
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           11,145             6,496
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      190               125
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                1                 0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  7,930             5,558
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,013             3,916
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       9,013             3,916
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                   0                 0
<CHANGES>                                         0                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,898             2,402
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.00              0.98
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.98              0.97
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.76              4.63
<LOANS-NON>                                      3,482             3,120
<LOANS-PAST>                                      0                 0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                  0                 0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                    398               223
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 3,739             1,371
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      207               100
<RECOVERIES>                                       194                 6
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                3,916             2,848 <F1>
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             3,916             2,848 
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                0                 0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                            0                 0

<FN>
<F1>Allowance added through acquisition totaled $1,446 in 1996.
</FN>

        

</TABLE>