<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, RELATED NOTES AND
MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS CONTINUED IN THE REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FILED BY
SILICON VALLEY BANCSHARES FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                         185,577
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             441
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               103,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  1,745,262
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      1,661,016
<ALLOWANCE>                                     70,800
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,721,755
<DEPOSITS>                                   3,404,801
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             34,934
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            21
<OTHER-SE>                                     243,475
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               3,721,755
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                118,872
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               65,252
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                22,340
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               206,464
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              63,900
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              63,900
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          142,564
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   40,334
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               (243)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 83,050
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 44,305
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      27,299
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    27,299
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.33<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.30<F2>
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                     5.2
<LOANS-NON>                                     33,959
<LOANS-PAST>                                     1,553
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 14,200
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                46,000
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   22,491
<RECOVERIES>                                     6,957
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               70,800
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            34,270
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         36,530
<FN>
<F1>REPRESENTS - BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
<F2>REPRESENTS - DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
</FN>