<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 8, AND TABLES 2,16,18 AND 19 OF
ITEM 7 OF THE AMSOUTH BANCORPORATION FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                         658,500
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                19,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                 1,406
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  2,507,690
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                       2,272,154
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                         2,287,004
<LOANS>                                     12,237,668
<ALLOWANCE>                                    179,197
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              18,622,256
<DEPOSITS>                                  12,945,197
<SHORT-TERM>                                 2,421,843
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            236,747
<LONG-TERM>                                  1,633,224
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           90,021
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,295,224
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              18,622,256
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              1,052,125
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              322,398
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 3,265
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             1,377,788
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             484,087
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             701,511
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          676,277
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   67,399
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               7,883
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                526,192
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                348,690
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     348,690
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   226,167
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.76
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.73
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.09
<LOANS-NON>                                     71,358
<LOANS-PAST>                                    37,797
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               179,049
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   93,985
<RECOVERIES>                                    26,734
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              179,197
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           138,108
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         41,089


</TABLE>