<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CONDITION, THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS, AND
TABLES 2, 7 AND 8 OF ITEM 2 OF THE AMSOUTH BANCORPORATION FORM 10-Q FOR THE
QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                         639,588
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 3,075
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                 3,790
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,264,214
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                       2,475,095
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                         2,475,229
<LOANS>                                     12,203,520
<ALLOWANCE>                                    179,081
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              18,353,331
<DEPOSITS>                                  12,613,686
<SHORT-TERM>                                 2,869,322
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            252,335
<LONG-TERM>                                  1,235,215
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        90,033
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,292,740
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              18,353,331
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                517,350
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              164,418
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 1,521
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               683,289
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             238,148
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             346,496
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          336,793
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   35,517
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               4,941
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                260,004
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                170,778
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     170,778
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   110,473
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.33
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.33
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.10
<LOANS-NON>                                     73,044
<LOANS-PAST>                                    42,918
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               179,049
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   46,841
<RECOVERIES>                                    11,356
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              179,081
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
        

</TABLE>