<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 CONTAINED IN THE REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FILED
BY SILICON VALLEY BANKSHARES FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                         107,864
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             324
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               275,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    635,420
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                        931,457
<ALLOWANCE>                                     36,400
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,951,522
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,799,683
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             11,594
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        68,425
<OTHER-SE>                                      71,820
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,951,522
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 22,936
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                8,721
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 3,236
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                34,893
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              11,036
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           23,857
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    3,348
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   2
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 14,667
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 10,672
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       6,190
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,190
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .62
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .62
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                     5.7
<LOANS-NON>                                     15,001
<LOANS-PAST>                                     1,142
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  5,212
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                32,700
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      540
<RECOVERIES>                                       892
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               36,400
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            36,400
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         12,636