<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, the
consolidated statement of cash flows of Item 1 of Part 1 and tables 2, 6 and 7
of Item 2 of Part 1 of the AmSouth Bancorporation Form 10-Q for the quarterly
period ended June 30, 1998 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-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                         577,138
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                11,850
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                 2,370
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  3,337,235
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                       2,544,386
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                         2,562,259
<LOANS>                                     12,436,535
<ALLOWANCE>                                    174,079
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              19,982,144
<DEPOSITS>                                  12,958,254
<SHORT-TERM>                                 2,113,537
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            343,186
<LONG-TERM>                                  3,146,178
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       135,106
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,285,883
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              19,982,144
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                534,677
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              186,060
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 3,028
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               723,765
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             248,294
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             377,476
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          346,289
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   37,834
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               2,458
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                295,128
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                197,504
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     197,504
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   127,493
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.06
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.04
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.98
<LOANS-NON>                                     75,501
<LOANS-PAST>                                    25,701
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               179,197
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   40,128
<RECOVERIES>                                    12,076
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              174,079
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
        



</TABLE>