<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
The consolidated statement of condition, the consolidated statement of earnings,
the consolidated statement of cash flows of Item 1 of Part I and tables 2, 5 and
6 of Item 2 of Part I of the AmSouth Bancorporation Form 10-Q for the quarterly
period ended March 31, 1999.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                                        <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                         573,898
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 8,250
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                 7,310
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  3,086,960
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                       2,025,004
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                         2,033,070
<LOANS>                                     13,193,722
<ALLOWANCE>                                    176,595
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              20,083,771
<DEPOSITS>                                  12,944,984
<SHORT-TERM>                                 1,793,712
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            402,847
<LONG-TERM>                                  3,514,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       202,423
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,225,805
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              20,083,771
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                270,785
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               82,556
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 1,754
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               355,095
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             110,577
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             173,983
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          181,112
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    9,500
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               3,803
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                151,981
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                108,692
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     108,692
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    70,331
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .40
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .39
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.08
<LOANS-NON>                                     66,580
<LOANS-PAST>                                    26,077
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               176,075
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   13,939
<RECOVERIES>                                     4,959
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              176,595
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
        


</TABLE>