<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated balance sheets and statements of income found on pages 3 and 4 of
the Company's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 1998.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001019508
<NAME> GOLDEN STATE BANCORP INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US$
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                         854,954
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                          52,671
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                 13,718,739
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                       3,021,877
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                         3,076,715
<LOANS>                                     32,647,527<F1>
<ALLOWANCE>                                    588,533
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              54,868,984
<DEPOSITS>                                  24,620,066
<SHORT-TERM>                                14,045,658
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                          1,459,750
<LONG-TERM>                                 12,568,294
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       128,688
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,453,090
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              54,868,984
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              1,855,008
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              693,805
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             2,548,813
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             791,112
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,819,545
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          729,268
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   40,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               1,131
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                764,003
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                402,264
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     398,088
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                150,333
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   247,755
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.11
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.04
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    7.23
<LOANS-NON>                                    226,188
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                31,937
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 86,340
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               418,674
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   46,126
<RECOVERIES>                                     5,971
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              588,533
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            17,561
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        570,972
<FN>
<F1>Tag 17 - Loans includes Loans held for sale of $2,366,583 and Allowance for
    loan losses of $588,533
</FN>
        



</TABLE>