<ARTICLE>    9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Form 
10-Q of H. F. Ahmanson & Company for the three months ended March 31, 1998 
and 1997 is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial 
statements.
</LEGEND>
       

                                                
<MULTIPLIER>                                 1,000           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                 YEAR           YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      DEC-31-1998    DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                           MAR-31-1998    MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                     732,599        540,831
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           0              0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                           227,600        283,800
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                 0              0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>             10,045,550      9,522,880
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                   4,319,502      4,906,777
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                     4,408,013      4,896,669
<LOANS>                                 35,988,079     30,921,688
<ALLOWANCE>                                480,749        387,688
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          54,519,346     48,697,126
<DEPOSITS>                              38,363,249     34,399,125
<SHORT-TERM>                             2,826,963      2,783,640
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                      1,497,796      1,119,630
<LONG-TERM>                              8,428,298      7,847,454
<COMMON>                                         0              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            0              0
<PREFERRED>                                      0              0
<OTHER-SE>                               3,254,533      2,398,942
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>          54,519,346     48,697,126
<INTEREST-LOAN>                            632,892        577,533
<INTEREST-INVEST>                          270,325        284,570
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 0              0 
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                           903,217        862,103
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                         387,895        375,139
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         562,367        544,484
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                      340,850        317,619
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                8,066         24,223
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               0              0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                            233,275        217,130
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            180,803        165,135
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                 180,803        165,135
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  0              0
<CHANGES>                                        0              0
<NET-INCOME>                               114,303        103,093
<EPS-PRIMARY> <F1>                            1.06           0.94
<EPS-DILUTED>                                 0.97           0.87
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                2.77           2.64
<LOANS-NON>                                520,001        599,044
<LOANS-PAST>                                     0              0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                           280,905        209,961
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                            145,762        118,499
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                           377,351        389,135
<CHARGE-OFFS>                               19,295         34,855
<RECOVERIES>                                 6,797          9,185
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                          480,749        387,688
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                       480,749        387,688
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                              0              0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          0              0
<FN>
  <F1>  REPRESENTS EPS-BASIC
</FN>