<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM NORWEST FINANCIAL INC AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                         125,209
<SECURITIES>                                   840,792
<RECEIVABLES>                                5,941,412
<ALLOWANCES>                                   171,459
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0<F1>
<PP&E>                                         170,052
<DEPRECIATION>                                  92,577
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               7,656,215
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0<F1>
<BONDS>                                      6,027,484<F2>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         3,855
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,107,029
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 7,656,215
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               384,455
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               139,968
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                92,879
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              54,749
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 96,859
<INCOME-TAX>                                    34,082
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    62,777
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>NORWEST FINANCIAL INC HAS A NON-CLASSIFIED BALANCE
SHEET SO THIS INFORMATION IS UNAVAILABLE.
<F2>INCLUDES $2.0 BILLION OF SHORT-TERM LOANS.
</FN>