<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND> 
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from CNB
Bancshares Inc.'s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 1995 and the
consolidated statement of income for the year ended December 31, 1995, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                         130,239
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             296
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 8,250
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    972,320
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         198,240
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           199,966
<LOANS>                                      2,193,611
<ALLOWANCE>                                     28,806
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,628,682
<DEPOSITS>                                   2,789,989
<SHORT-TERM>                                   351,082
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             31,872
<LONG-TERM>                                    158,046
<COMMON>                                        17,895
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     279,798
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               3,628,682
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                198,423
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               73,944
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 1,418
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               273,785
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             108,778
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             140,350
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          133,435
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    6,939
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               2,165
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                116,804
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 56,361
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      56,361
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    35,651
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.96
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.96
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.13
<LOANS-NON>                                     19,913
<LOANS-PAST>                                     2,227
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                   948
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  8,330
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                28,502
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    9,494
<RECOVERIES>                                     2,090
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               28,806
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            27,107
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          1,699
        


</TABLE>