<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 QUARTER JUNE 30, 1996.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                          90,323
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             410
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               372,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    445,263
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                        823,651
<ALLOWANCE>                                     29,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,736,466
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,608,547
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              8,947
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        63,659
<OTHER-SE>                                      55,313
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,736,466
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 42,300
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                9,416
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 6,508
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                58,224
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              17,085
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              17,085
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           41,139
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    3,588
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   1
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  4,077
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 17,190
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      17,190
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,314
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $1.07
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $1.07
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                     8.8
<LOANS-NON>                                     23,532
<LOANS-PAST>                                        88
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  8,670
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                29,700
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    5,695
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,407
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               29,000
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            18,807
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         10,193