<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, RELATED NOTES AND
MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS CONTAINED IN THE REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FILED BY
SILICON VALLEY BANCSHARES FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                         364,670
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             548
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                             1,440,019
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,020,914
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      1,596,855
<ALLOWANCE>                                     73,800
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,504,131
<DEPOSITS>                                   4,799,894
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             76,696
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            49
<OTHER-SE>                                     571,561
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               5,504,131
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                139,125
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               83,695
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                59,830
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               282,650
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              41,486
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              41,486
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          241,164
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   46,309
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                              35,950
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                146,335
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                207,307
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     123,329
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   123,329
<EPS-BASIC>                                       2.68
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.54
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    6.91
<LOANS-NON>                                     18,495
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                71,800
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   51,828
<RECOVERIES>                                     7,519
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               73,800
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            51,333
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         22,467

<F1>REPRESENTS BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
<F2>REPRESENTS DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE