<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                                            9
<LEGEND>                                                     FORM 10-Q
<CIK>                                                       0000708848
<NAME>                                                  FIRST CITIZENS
<MULTIPLIER>                                                     1,000
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                               SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                    3-MOS
<CASH>                                                          73,939
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                          11,300
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                                 4,300
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                     16,038
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                         451,039
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                           451,719
<LOANS>                                                      1,250,174
<ALLOWANCE>                                                   (23,587)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                               1,883,009
<DEPOSITS>                                                   1,621,926
<SHORT-TERM>                                                   111,748
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                             12,340
<LONG-TERM>                                                     10,425
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                0
<PREFERRED>                                                      3,282
<COMMON>                                                         4,694
<OTHER-SE>                                                     118,594
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                               1,883,009
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                                 76,853
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                               20,964
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                                 1,456
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                                99,273
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                              38,070
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              42,745
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                           56,528
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                                    3,823
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                                 48,081
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                 20,337
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                                      20,337
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                      0
<CHANGES>                                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                                    13,164
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                    13.86
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                    13.86
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                                    8.03
<LOANS-NON>                                                      2,637
<LOANS-PAST>                                                     1,695
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                                    54
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                                    373
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                                21,153
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                                     2,305
<RECOVERIES>                                                       916
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                              23,587
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                           23,587
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                        12,031

</TABLE>