<ARTICLE>  9
<LEGEND>

THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP. FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31, 1998, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                         354,579
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             928
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               120,860
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  1,366,409
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         313,185
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           317,488
<LOANS>                                      6,706,297
<ALLOWANCE>                                    105,716
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               9,376,677
<DEPOSITS>                                   7,889,802
<SHORT-TERM>                                   214,811
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            182,465
<LONG-TERM>                                    117,860
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       263,182
<OTHER-SE>                                     664,147
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               9,376,677
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                159,754
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               26,421
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   780
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               186,955
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              75,912
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              80,893
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          106,062
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    7,594
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 145
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                166,613
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 64,173
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      41,213
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    41,213
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .15<F1> 
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    5.22
<LOANS-NON>                                     17,805
<LOANS-PAST>                                    18,783
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                17,805
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               103,050
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    6,477
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,549
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              105,716
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           105,716
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         11,000

<FN> On April 23, 1998, Synovus announced a three-for-two
     stock split to be issued on May 21, 1998, to  shareholders  of record as of
     May 7, 1998.  Financial  data  schedules  have not been  restated for prior
     periods for this recapitalization.
</FN>