<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 NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS
QUAILFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                         142,031
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             290
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               386,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    837,372
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      1,037,268
<ALLOWANCE>                                     38,600
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,405,839
<DEPOSITS>                                   2,228,210
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             15,348
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        72,757
<OTHER-SE>                                      89,524
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               2,405,839
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 77,874
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               29,020
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                11,891
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               118,785
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              38,791
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              38,791
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           79,994
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    7,682
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  78
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 48,039
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 34,886
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      20,234
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    20,234
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.99
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.99
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                     5.7
<LOANS-NON>                                     23,293
<LOANS-PAST>                                       530
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 15,167
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                32,700
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    4,903
<RECOVERIES>                                     3,121
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               38,600
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            38,600
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         11,118