<ARTICLE> 9 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP. FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 319,737 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 675 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 42,728 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,372,847 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 310,187 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 319,048 <LOANS> 7,191,812 <ALLOWANCE> 110,458 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 9,840,766 <DEPOSITS> 8,026,590 <SHORT-TERM> 417,361 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 182,975 <LONG-TERM> 129,502 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 267,437 <OTHER-SE> 768,064 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 9,840,766 <INTEREST-LOAN> 488,139 <INTEREST-INVEST> 78,643 <INTEREST-OTHER> 2,899 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 569,681 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 228,886 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 244,640 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 325,041 <LOAN-LOSSES> 20,329 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 750 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 500,498 <INCOME-PRETAX> 207,014 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 132,863 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 132,863 <EPS-PRIMARY> .50 <EPS-DILUTED> .50 <F1> <YIELD-ACTUAL> 5.24 <LOANS-NON> 22,332 <LOANS-PAST> 23,938 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 22,332 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 103,050 <CHARGE-OFFS> 22,074 <RECOVERIES> 5,279 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 110,458 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 110,458 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 21,910 <FN> <F1> 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>