<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                        9
<CIK>                                            0000768532
<NAME>                                           First Commerce Bancshares, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1000
       
<S>                                                           <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                   3-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                             Dec-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                Jan-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                  Mar-31-1998
<CASH>                                                        160,242
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                             0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                               50,200
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                                   0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                   326,767
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                        360,127
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                          365,181
<LOANS>                                                     1,225,470
<ALLOWANCE>                                                    22,504
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                              2,292,668
<DEPOSITS>                                                  1,718,330
<SHORT-TERM>                                                  284,995
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                            35,499
<LONG-TERM>                                                    16,170
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                               0
<PREFERRED>                                                         0
<COMMON>                                                        2,706
<OTHER-SE>                                                    234,968
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                              2,292,668
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                                27,618
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                              10,799
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                                1,087
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                               39,504
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                             15,281
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                             19,379
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                          20,125
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                                   1,496
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                                839
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                                21,841
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                11,780
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                                      7,620
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                     0
<CHANGES>                                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                                    7,620
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                    0.56
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                    0.56
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                                      0
<LOANS-NON>                                                     1,334
<LOANS-PAST>                                                    1,392
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                                1,509
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                                     0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                               22,458
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                                   2,045
<RECOVERIES>                                                      595
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                              22,504
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                           22,504
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                           500
        

</TABLE>