<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>                    3-MOS                       6-MOS               9-MOS          
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998         DEC-31-1998         DEC-31-1998  
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998         JAN-01-1998         JAN-01-1998  
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998         JUN-30-1998         SEP-30-1998  
<CASH>                                         354,579             381,565             319,737  
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             928                 669                 675  
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               120,860              38,051              42,728  
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0                   0                   0  
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  1,366,409           1,363,616           1,372,847  
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         313,185             301,651             310,187  
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           317,488             306,130             319,048  
<LOANS>                                      6,706,297           6,728,288           7,191,812  
<ALLOWANCE>                                    105,716             106,704             110,458  
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               9,376,677           9,370,271           9,840,766  
<DEPOSITS>                                   7,889,802           7,823,454           8,026,590  
<SHORT-TERM>                                   214,811             249,695             417,361  
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            182,465             173,002             182,975  
<LONG-TERM>                                    117,860             123,484             129,502  
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                   0                   0  
<PREFERRED>                                          0                   0                   0  
<COMMON>                                       263,182             263,276             267,437  
<OTHER-SE>                                     664,147             691,074             768,064  
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               9,376,677           9,370,271           9,840,766  
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                159,754             321,270             488,139  
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               26,421              52,867              78,643  
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   780               1,885               2,899  
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               186,955             376,022             569,681  
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              75,912             151,818             228,886  
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              80,893             162,020             244,640  
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          106,062             214,002             325,041  
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    7,594              14,598              20,329  
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 145                 326                 750  
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                166,613             328,379             500,498  
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 64,173             132,794             207,014  
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      41,213              85,425             132,863  
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                   0                   0  
<CHANGES>                                            0                   0                   0  
<NET-INCOME>                                    41,213              85,425             132,863  
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .16<F1>             .32<F1>             .50<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .15<F1>             .32<F1>             .50<F1>
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    5.22                5.22                5.24  
<LOANS-NON>                                     17,805              20,372              22,332  
<LOANS-PAST>                                    18,783              23,426              23,938  
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                   525                 560                 390  
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0                   0                   0  
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               103,050             103,050             103,050  
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    6,477              14,254              22,074  
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,549               3,310               5,279  
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              105,716             106,704             110,458  
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           105,716             106,704             110,458  
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                   0                   0  
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         22,300              22,060              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>