<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE AUDITED
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, RELATED NOTES, AND MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION
AND ANALYSIS CONTAINED IN THE REPORT ON FORM 10-K FILED BY SILICON VALLEY
BANCSHARES FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                          85,187
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             138
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               257,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    321,309
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                        738,405
<ALLOWANCE>                                     29,700
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,407,587
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,290,060
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             12,553
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        59,317
<OTHER-SE>                                      45,657
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,407,587
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 79,767
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               10,439
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                11,041
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               101,247
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              27,293
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              27,295
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           73,952
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    8,737
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               (768)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  6,146
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 29,855
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      29,855
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    18,153
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.98
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.98
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                     9.7
<LOANS-NON>                                     27,867
<LOANS-PAST>                                       906
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  1,588
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                20,000
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    4,958
<RECOVERIES>                                     5,921
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               29,700
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            17,309
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         12,391