<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY 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-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <CASH> 169,017 <SECURITIES> 1,223,802 <RECEIVABLES> 8,283,015 <ALLOWANCES> 357,213 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0<F1> <PP&E> 349,639 <DEPRECIATION> 139,035 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 10,481,739 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0<F1> <BONDS> 8,294,894<F2> <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 3,855 <OTHER-SE> 1,583,682 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 10,481,739 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 485,595 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 200,552 <LOSS-PROVISION> 68,082 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 124,863 <INCOME-PRETAX> 92,098 <INCOME-TAX> 32,335 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 59,763 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <FN> <F1>NORWEST FINANCIAL INC. HAS A NON-CLASSIFIED BALANCE SHEET SO THIS INFORMATION IS UNAVAILABLE. <F2>INCLUDES $3.0 BILLION OF SHORT-TERM LOANS. </FN>