<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-K OF
H. F. AHMANSON & COMPANY FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                         603,797                 691,578                 752,878
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0                       0                       0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               550,200                 737,500                 381,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0                       0                       0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  8,476,060               9,239,001              10,336,774
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                       4,325,000               5,069,108               5,827,724
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                         4,368,336               5,113,823               5,967,529
<LOANS>                                     30,484,191              31,789,158              31,255,379
<ALLOWANCE>                                    377,351                 389,135                 380,886
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              46,678,752              49,902,044              50,529,586
<DEPOSITS>                                  32,268,375              34,773,945              34,244,481
<SHORT-TERM>                                 2,512,861               2,030,529               3,519,311
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                          1,037,202                 966,116                 991,755
<LONG-TERM>                                  8,316,405               9,549,992               8,717,117
<COMMON>                                         1,211                   1,195                   1,184
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                         14                      14                      49
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,394,220               2,431,840               3,055,689
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              46,678,752              49,902,044              50,529,586
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              2,315,253               2,296,786               2,405,820
<INTEREST-INVEST>                            1,088,119               1,218,009               1,293,271
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             3,403,372               3,514,795               3,699,091
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                           1,479,438               1,523,873               1,835,590
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           2,168,487               2,262,281               2,472,336
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        1,234,885               1,252,514               1,226,755
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   67,091                 144,924                 119,111
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 232                   3,387                  12,106
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                842,582               1,178,830                 981,407
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                654,782                 180,558                 824,646
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     654,782                 180,558                 824,646
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0               (234,742)
<NET-INCOME>                                   413,782                 145,258                 216,204
<EPS-PRIMARY><F1>                                 3.91                    0.92                    1.41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.59                    0.92                    1.41
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    2.68                    2.63                    2.39
<LOANS-NON>                                    432,898                 598,661                 723,791
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0                       0                       0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               212,299                 185,635                 163,844
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                144,630                 114,322                  51,018
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               389,135                 380,886                 400,232
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  114,018                 190,540                 162,618
<RECOVERIES>                                    35,143                  39,155                  24,161
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              377,351                 389,135                 380,886
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           377,351                 389,135                 380,886
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                       0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0                       0                       0
<FN>
<F1> Represents EPS-BASIC.
</FN>