-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IJtHz6L9PuDv8ViejI4W8tAski8vhSAdmG1NjyiSGnpkHZ4HuWbeZK8YcK5HkI5A
 nBOKDUNL7XbyW30KTZte1A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001245313-04-000076.txt : 20041103
<SEC-HEADER>0001245313-04-000076.hdr.sgml : 20041103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041103194317
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001245313-04-000076
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041103
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041103

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Ward Pierce Lynda
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001306575

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15637
		FILM NUMBER:		041117732

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		408-654-7282

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3003 TASMAN DRIVE
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95054

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001306575</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ward Pierce Lynda</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>Head of HR</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4687</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-11-02</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-11-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4687</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4687</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reporting person was granted Restricted Stock Units which are subject to annual vesting in equal installments over a four-year period from date of grant.  At each vesting the reporting person will receive shares of the company's common stock as described in the respective restricted stock unit agreement with the company.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Lisa Bertolet as attorney in fact  For: Lynda Ward Pierce</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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