<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 THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1998, AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                         130,163
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             255
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               360,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  1,058,249
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      1,242,014
<ALLOWANCE>                                     40,400
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,800,900
<DEPOSITS>                                   2,597,200
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             16,144
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        82,421
<OTHER-SE>                                     105,135
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               2,800,900
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 31,102
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               13,997
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 4,442
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                49,541
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              17,601
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              17,604
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           31,937
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    5,480
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 474
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 18,904
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 12,944
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       7,579
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     7,579
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.38<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.36<F2>
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                     5.3
<LOANS-NON>                                     19,297
<LOANS-PAST>                                     1,080
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 15,722
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                37,700
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    3,950
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,170
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               40,400
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            27,379
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         13,021
<FN>
<F1>REPRESENTS BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE.
<F2>REPRESENTS DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE.
</FN>