<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF WACHOVIA CORPORATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH
31, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                       2,661,486
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         460,481
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               398,560
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               856,077
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  7,407,370
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                       1,535,660
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                         1,615,807
<LOANS>                                     29,868,991
<ALLOWANCE>                                    408,928
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              45,425,115
<DEPOSITS>                                  25,908,563
<SHORT-TERM>                                 8,441,370
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                          1,192,340
<LONG-TERM>                                  6,153,493
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       844,841
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,884,508
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              45,425,115
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                608,285
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              150,656
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                24,302
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               783,243
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             221,851
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             413,328
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          369,915
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   27,334
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 698
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                308,245
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                219,139
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     149,870
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   149,870
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .87
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .87
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.95
<LOANS-NON>                                     57,867
<LOANS-PAST>                                    57,415
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               408,808
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   39,065
<RECOVERIES>                                    11,851
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              408,928
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0