<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE AUDITED
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, RELATED NOTES AND MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND
ANALYSIS CONTAINED IN THE REPORT ON FORM 10-K, FILED BY SILICON VALLEY
BANCSHARES FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                         105,059
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             273
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               321,500
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  1,013,904
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      1,174,645
<ALLOWANCE>                                     37,700
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,625,123
<DEPOSITS>                                   2,432,407
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             18,235
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        77,063
<OTHER-SE>                                      97,418
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               2,625,123
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                106,840
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               41,868
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                17,264
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               165,972
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              55,148
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              55,148
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          110,824
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   10,067
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  90
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 66,301
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 47,721
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      27,678
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    27,678
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.86<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.72<F2>
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                     5.6
<LOANS-NON>                                     24,476
<LOANS-PAST>                                     1,016
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 13,744
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                32,700
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    9,236
<RECOVERIES>                                     4,169
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               37,700
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            31,480
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          6,220
<FN>
<F1>Represents basic earnings per share.
<F2>Represents diluted earnings per share.
</FN>