<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NORWEST
FINANCIAL INC AND IS QUALIFIED IN IT ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                         108,806
<SECURITIES>                                   804,811
<RECEIVABLES>                                5,899,165
<ALLOWANCES>                                   168,022
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0<F1>
<PP&E>                                         164,726
<DEPRECIATION>                                  93,472
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               7,497,567
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0<F1>
<BONDS>                                      5,969,116<F2>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         3,855
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,017,652
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 7,497,567
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,135,770
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               412,240
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               139,131
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             279,964
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                304,435
<INCOME-TAX>                                   107,881
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   196,554
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>NORWEST FINANCIAL INC HAS A NON-CLASSIFIED BALANCE SHEET
SO THIS INFORMATION IS UNAVAILABLE.
<F2>INCLUDES $1.9 BILLION OF SHORT-TERM LOANS
</FN>