-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UE05i22dHMnRtlVjSuAH5KAzx5HWAltpbX62M/cxF739TKjUFxcM1hLQWrPQzkHN
 AQXUqhUOnLDhgcl9i28X7w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001245313-04-000008.txt : 20040212
<SEC-HEADER>0001245313-04-000008.hdr.sgml : 20040212
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040212205643
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001245313-04-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040209
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040212

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SILICON VALLEY BANCSHARES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000719739
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				911962278
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3003 TASMAN DR
		STREET 2:		M/S NC820
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95054
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4086547400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3003 TASMAN DRIVE, M/S NC820
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95054

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARDIN TIMOTHY M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001273453

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15637
		FILM NUMBER:		04594086

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SILICON VALLEY BANCSHARES
		STREET 2:		3003 TASMAN DR
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95054
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4086547282

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SILICON VALLEY BANCSHARES
		STREET 2:		3003 TASMAN DR
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95054
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-09</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-02-12</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000719739</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SILICON VALLEY BANCSHARES</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SIVB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001273453</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARDIN TIMOTHY M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3003 TASMAN DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA CLARA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95054</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>COO - Merchant Banking</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.625</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1998-02-10</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-02-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Lisa Bertolet as attorney in fact  For: Timothy M. Hardin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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