<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the 
consolidated financial statements of financial condition and operations found
on pages 3 and 4 of the Company's Form 10-Q for the three months ended 
March 31, 1997.
</LEGEND>

<CIK>        0000928358
<NAME>       FIRST NATIONWIDE HOLDINGS INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY>   USD
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                         334,047
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                          56,384
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  4,901,787
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                       1,552,585
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                         1,552,585
<LOANS>                                     20,833,143<F1>
<ALLOWANCE>                                    400,419
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              30,410,022
<DEPOSITS>                                  17,017,961
<SHORT-TERM>                                 8,042,004
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            697,264
<LONG-TERM>                                  2,785,074
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    119,966<F2>
<COMMON>                                             1
<OTHER-SE>                                     761,416
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              30,410,022
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                407,896
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              104,855
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               512,751
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             187,020
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             344,991
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          167,760
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   19,950
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  22
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                153,286
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 73,363
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      61,709
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    41,860<F3>
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    7.56
<LOANS-NON>                                    262,730
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               118,132
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 79,279
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               246,556
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   10,773
<RECOVERIES>                                       866
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              400,419
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             9,542
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        390,877
<FN>
<F1> Loans includes Loans held for sale of $1,101,886
<F2> Preferred excludes $486,336 in Minority interest for the preferred
     stock of California Federal Bank and $500,000 in Minority Interest
     for the preferred stock of California Federal Preferred Capital
     Corporation
<F3> Net income available to common stockholders: $37,337
        



</TABLE>