<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS OF SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP. FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 31,
1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                               JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                 DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                           404,952
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             2,040
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                  38,249
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                       0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    1,276,083
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                           363,008
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                             364,694
<LOANS>                                        6,065,230
<ALLOWANCE>                                       94,683
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 8,612,344
<DEPOSITS>                                     7,203,035
<SHORT-TERM>                                     339,200
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              154,641
<LONG-TERM>                                       97,283
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                            0
<COMMON>                                         116,424
<OTHER-SE>                                       667,326
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 8,612,344
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                  562,208
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                 99,170
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   1,925
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                 663,303
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               267,349
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               288,429
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            374,874
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                     31,766
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 (176)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  549,174
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  219,312
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       139,604
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                     139,604
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       1.20<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       1.19<F1>
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                      5.19
<LOANS-NON>                                       25,280
<LOANS-PAST>                                      15,805
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                   1,625
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                        0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                  81,384
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                     25,180
<RECOVERIES>                                       6,525
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                 94,683
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                              94,683
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                    0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                           22,951
<FN>
<F1>ON MARCH 11, 1996 SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP. ANNOUNCED A THREE-FOR-TWO 
    STOCK SPLIT EFFECTIVE APRIL 8, 1996 TO SHAREHOLDERS OF RECORD AS OF 
    MARCH 21, 1996. PER SHARE DATA HAS BEEN RETROACTIVELY RESTATED TO REFLECT
    THE ADDITIONAL SHARES OUTSTANDING RESULTING FROM THE STOCK SPLIT.
</FN>