<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 foor the nine months ended September
30, 1997.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>        0000928358
<NAME>       FIRST NATIONWIDE HOLDINGS INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY>   US $
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                         282,727
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                          36,551
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  6,110,564
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                       1,470,987
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                         1,470,987
<LOANS>                                     20,257,989<F1>
<ALLOWANCE>                                    410,567
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              30,950,375
<DEPOSITS>                                  16,660,626
<SHORT-TERM>                                 8,171,202
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            693,926
<LONG-TERM>                                  3,545,993
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     57,445<F2>
<COMMON>                                             1
<OTHER-SE>                                     834,715
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              30,950,375
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              1,221,926
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              349,965
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             1,571,891
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             562,904
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,071,921
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          499,970
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   59,850
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 104
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                478,762
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                217,491
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     182,053
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   115,884<F3>
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    7.54
<LOANS-NON>                                    218,932
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                37,398
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 78,722
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               246,556
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   43,283
<RECOVERIES>                                     2,028
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              410,567<F4>
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             6,876
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        403,691
<FN>
F1  Loans includes loans held for sale of $1,027,893 and Allowance for loan 
    losses of $410,567
F2  Preferred excludes $486,457 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: $104,879
F4  Allowance-close includes $143,820 related to loans acquired in the Cal Fed
    Acquisition
        


</TABLE>