<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, RELATED NOTES, AND
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS CONTAIN IN THE REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
FILED BY SILICON VALLEY BANCSHARES FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
1995.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995
<CASH>                                         104,310
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             128
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               270,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    171,517
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                           6,612
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                             7,011
<LOANS>                                        700,762
<ALLOWANCE>                                     27,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,256,346
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,148,350
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              9,833
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        58,046
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                      40,117
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,256,346
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 59,371
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                6,831
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 7,307
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                73,509
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              19,062
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              19,062
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           54,447
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    6,098
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               (770)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  4,143
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 20,512
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      20,512
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    12,724
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.40
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.40
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                     9.9
<LOANS-NON>                                     20,272
<LOANS-PAST>                                       685
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 10,609
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                20,000
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    4,322
<RECOVERIES>                                     5,224
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               27,000
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            12,926
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         14,074