<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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                         181,443
<SECURITIES>                                 1,122,335
<RECEIVABLES>                                7,630,338
<ALLOWANCES>                                   332,175
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0<F1>
<PP&E>                                         255,736
<DEPRECIATION>                                 118,967
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               9,813,151
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0<F1>
<BONDS>                                      7,708,234<F2>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         3,855
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,496,973
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 9,813,151
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               907,548
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               353,300
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               130,480
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             234,053
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                189,715
<INCOME-TAX>                                    66,719
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   122,996
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<FN>
<F1>NORWEST FINANCIAL HAS A NON-CLASSIFIED BALANCE SHEET
SO THIS INFORMATION IS UNAVAILABLE.
<F2>INCLUDES $2.4 BILLION OF SHORT-TERM LOANS.
</FN>