<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-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                         151,445
<SECURITIES>                                 1,106,703
<RECEIVABLES>                                7,247,747
<ALLOWANCES>                                   305,343
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0<F1>
<PP&E>                                         231,695
<DEPRECIATION>                                 113,210
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               9,383,283
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0<F1>
<BONDS>                                      7,334,233<F2>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         3,855
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,423,545
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 9,383,283
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               447,151
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               175,028
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                67,176
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             114,350
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 90,597
<INCOME-TAX>                                    31,907
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    58,690
<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>