<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, 1999 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                         134,051
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             183
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               664,500
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  1,504,739
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      1,614,335
<ALLOWANCE>                                     47,600
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,938,569
<DEPOSITS>                                   3,654,287
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             22,511
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        94,477
<OTHER-SE>                                     132,490
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               3,938,569
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 37,532
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               18,844
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 5,978
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                62,354
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              20,952
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              20,952
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           41,402
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    7,968
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 131
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 25,537
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 13,149
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       7,836
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     7,836
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.38<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.38<F2>
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                     5.0
<LOANS-NON>                                     50,993
<LOANS-PAST>                                       740
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 11,000
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                46,000
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    8,076
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,709
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               47,600
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            31,536
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         16,064
<FN>
<F1>Represents basic earnings per share
<F2>Represents diluted earnings per share
</FN>