<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Capital Corp
of the West Annual Report for 1996 and is qualified in its entirety by reference
to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                      12,982,000
<SECURITIES>                                43,378,000
<RECEIVABLES>                              183,247,000
<ALLOWANCES>                               (2,792,000)
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                      11,368,000
<DEPRECIATION>                             (5,102,000)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             265,989,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    20,974,000
<OTHER-SE>                                           0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               265,989,000
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            22,286,000
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            10,736,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             1,513,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           6,865,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              3,172,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                 1,163,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          2,009,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 2,009,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.27
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.27