<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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          98,964
<SECURITIES>                                 1,053,743
<RECEIVABLES>                                7,199,804
<ALLOWANCES>                                   293,505
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0<F1>
<PP&E>                                         197,276
<DEPRECIATION>                                 103,873
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               9,186,992
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0<F1>
<BONDS>                                      7,292,307<F2>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         3,855
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,354,307
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 9,186,992
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,177,526
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               429,215
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               157,195
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             287,855
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                303,261
<INCOME-TAX>                                   104,535
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   198,726
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>NORWEST FINANCIAL INC. HAS A NON-CLASSIFIED BALANCE
SHEET SO THIS INFORMATION IS UNAVAILABLE.
<F2>INCLUDES $2.4 BILLION OF SHORT-TERM LOANS.
</FN>