<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
    Form 10-Q
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                          0000708848                     
<NAME>                                         FIRST CITIZENS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              dec-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 jan-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   sep-30-1997
<CASH>                                           95,303
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                            8,325
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                      0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                      0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                      29,883
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          545,610
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            511,887
<LOANS>                                       1,382,262
<ALLOWANCE>                                     (25,564)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                2,146,916
<DEPOSITS>                                    1,796,273
<SHORT-TERM>                                    171,049
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              13,081
<LONG-TERM>                                      15,108
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                       3,282
<COMMON>                                          4,646
<OTHER-SE>                                      143,477
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                2,146,916
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                  87,303
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                22,117
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                  1,846
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                111,266
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               41,871
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               48,148
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            63,118
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                     2,848
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   51
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  53,402
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  24,802
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       24,802
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                       0
<CHANGES>                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                     16,037
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     17.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     17.12
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                     7.95
<LOANS-NON>                                       2,693
<LOANS-PAST>                                      1,278
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     74
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  22,012
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 23,483
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                     2,203
<RECOVERIES>                                      1,436
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                25,564
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             25,564
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                   0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          13,749
        

</TABLE>