<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 BANCSHARES FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERNCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                         116,893
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             307
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               365,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    693,833
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      1,038,212
<ALLOWANCE>                                     37,300
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,215,784
<DEPOSITS>                                   2,055,016
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             10,081
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        70,170
<OTHER-SE>                                      80,517
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               2,215,784
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 49,525
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               18,123
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 6,965
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                74,613
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              23,674
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              23,674
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           50,939
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    5,966
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  45
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 30,420
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 22,360
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      12,969
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    12,969
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.29
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.29
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                     5.8
<LOANS-NON>                                     15,167
<LOANS-PAST>                                        85
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  9,975
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                32,700
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    3,203
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,837
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               37,300
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            37,300
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         10,687