<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, 1998.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                         107,953
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             220
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               711,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    940,893
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      1,438,231
<ALLOWANCE>                                     35,900
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,216,182
<DEPOSITS>                                   2,943,870
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             23,602
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        86,936
<OTHER-SE>                                     123,302
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               3,216,182
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                101,356
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               47,959
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                15,149
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               164,464
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              58,669
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              58,672
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          105,792
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   20,061
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               4,626
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 61,740
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 41,533
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      24,331
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    24,331
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.20
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.16
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                     5.2
<LOANS-NON>                                     23,229
<LOANS-PAST>                                       244
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  6,575
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                37,700
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   23,916
<RECOVERIES>                                     2,055
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               35,900
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            26,610
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          9,290