EXHIBIT 10.27
                     CONSULTING AGREEMENT
                     --------------------




      This  Consulting Agreement (this "Agreement") is  entered
into  as  of the 15th day of September, 1995, among  Dennis  G.
Uyemura  ("Consultant"),  Silicon  Valley  Bank  ("Bank"),  and
Silicon  Valley  Bancshares ("Bancshares").   Hereinafter,  the
Bank  and Bancshares collectively shall be referred to  as  the
"Company".



                           RECITALS
                           --------

      A.    On  or about the date of this Agreement, Consultant
and  the  Company have entered into a General Release, pursuant
to which, among other things, the Employee and the Company have
agreed  that  Consultant's  employment  with  the  Company   is
terminated  without "Cause" (as such term  is  defined  in  the
General Release [the "Termination Agreement"] ).

      B.   Following termination of employment with the Company
on September 15, 1995, the Company desires to engage Consultant
to   (i)  provide  technical  documentation  on  the  Company's
financial systems, including without limitation the NDR  system
(which   technical   documentation   shall   include,   without
limitation,   query  designs,  table  structures   and   naming
conventions) (the "ISG Documentation") and (ii) assist  on  the
Company's  transition  to  an Economic  Value  Added  financial
management  system (the "EVA Program").  Consultant desires  to
be  so  engaged, on the terms and conditions set forth in  this
Agreement.



                           AGREEMENT
                           ---------

      NOW,  THEREFORE, in consideration for the mutual promises
of  the parties and other good and valuable consideration,  the
receipt  and  sufficiency  of which  are  hereby  acknowledged,
Consultant and the Company hereby agree as follows:

      1.    ENGAGEMENT.  The Company hereby engages Consultant,
and  Consultant hereby accepts such engagement, to work on  the
ISG  Documentation and the EVA Program during the term of  this
Agreement.  Consultant shall perform such duties related to the
ISG Documentation and the EVA Program as requested from time to
time by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or the Chief
Executive Officer's designees.  Consultant shall be required to
provide 90 hours of services to the Company per calendar month.
Consultant  shall  not render consulting or other  services  to
third  parties (other than to Stern Stewart & Co.)  during  the
term of this Agreement without the prior written consent of the
Company.   The  Company shall not withhold consent  unless  the
Company  determines in its sole discretion that  such  services
would  significantly  interfere with  Consultant's  performance
under this Agreement.

     2.   TERM OF ENGAGEMENT AND TERMINATION.

           (a)   TERM.   Unless sooner terminated  pursuant  to
subsection  (b)  below,  the  term  of  engagement  under  this
Agreement  shall  commence  on September  15, 1995  and  shall
continue until March 15, 1996.


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          (b)  TERMINATION.  Consultant's engagement under this
Agreement shall terminate prior to the expiration of  its  term
upon the occurrence of any of the following:

                (i)  The mutual agreement of Consultant and the
Company;

                (ii)  At  the Company's option, (1) immediately
upon  a  breach of this Agreement by Consultant or (2)  at  any
other time following two weeks' prior notice;

                (iii)      At the Consultant's option,  at  any
time following two weeks' prior notice; or

                (iv) The death of Consultant.

     3.   COMPENSATION AND EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT.

           (a)   COMPENSATION.  As the total consideration  for
the   services  and  obligations  of  Consultant   under   this
Agreement,  the Company shall pay Consultant $6,667 per  month,
payable on the 15th and 30th day of each month during the  term
of the engagement.

           (b)   REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES.  The Company  shall
reimburse  Consultant  for any reasonable  documented  expenses
incurred  by  Consultant  in  the performance  of  Consultant's
duties  under this Agreement, in accordance with the  Company's
expense reimbursement policy.

      4.    OFFICE  EQUIPMENT.   During  the  consulting  term,
Employee  may use the Company's laptop computer, external  disc
drive,  and  printer,  which Consultant previously  used  while
employed  by  the Company.  Within one business  day  following
termination  of the consulting term, Consultant  shall  deliver
all  of  the  above-described equipment to the Company  at  its
principal place of business.

      5.    CONFIDENTIALITY.  Consultant shall not disclose any
confidential  business  or other information  relating  to  the
Company, including without limitation, the EVA Program, to  any
third  party.   This obligation to maintain the confidentiality
of  the Company's business and other information shall continue
indefinitely following termination of the consulting term.

       6.     NON-COMPETITION.   During  the  consulting  term,
Consultant  shall  not provide consulting  or  other  services,
whether   directly  or  indirectly,  for  any   company   which
"competes"  with  the  Company.   For  the  purpose   of   this
Agreement,  "compete" shall mean performing, or  attempting  to
perform, services to companies that provide services similar to
those provided by Company to existing or prospective clients of
the Company.

     7.   MISCELLANEOUS.

            (a)   GOVERNING  LAW.   This  Agreement  shall   be
construed  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  the  State   of
California.

            (b) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement represents the
entire  agreement between the parties pertaining to the subject
matter of this Agreement.  There are no promises or other terms
or obligations of the parties pertaining to this subject matter
other than as contained in this Agreement.

            (c)  AMENDMENT.  This Agreement may be amended only
by in writing executed by Consultant and the Company.

            (d)  ATTORNEYS' FEES.  Should any action be brought
to  enforce  any of the terms or conditions of this  Agreement,
the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover all costs and
expenses incurred in the prosecution or defense of that action,
including attorneys' fees.

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      IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  have  executed  this
Agreement as of the date first written above.

                              DENNIS G. UYEMURA,  an individual


                              ---------------------------------




                              SILICON VALLEY BANCSHARES


                              By:
                                  --------------------------------
                                   John C. Dean, Jr.
                                   President and Chief Executive Officer




                              SILICON VALLEY BANK


                              By:
                                  --------------------------------
                                   John C. Dean, Jr.
                                   President and Chief Executive Officer



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