<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,
1997.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>        0000928358
<NAME>       FIRST NATIONWIDE HOLDINGS INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY>   US$
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                         350,214
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                          36,164
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  5,889,683
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                       1,396,176
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                         1,431,588
<LOANS>                                     20,907,876<F1>
<ALLOWANCE>                                    439,233
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              31,347,079
<DEPOSITS>                                  16,202,605
<SHORT-TERM>                                 7,091,912
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            702,475
<LONG-TERM>                                  5,520,124
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     25,680<F2>
<COMMON>                                             1
<OTHER-SE>                                     817,826
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              31,347,079
<INTEREST-LOAN>                              1,629,574
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              473,126
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                             2,102,700
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             746,985
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,440,804
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          661,896
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   79,800
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                              25,182
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                648,719
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                297,861
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     250,713
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   161,369<F3>
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    7.53
<LOANS-NON>                                    192,195
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                35,485
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 74,062
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               246,556
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   56,124
<RECOVERIES>                                     4,623
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              439,233<F4>
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             7,921
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        431,312

<FN>
<F1> Tag 17 - Loans includes Loans held for sale of $1,483,466 and Allowance
              for loan losses of $439,233
<F2> Tag 25 - Preferred excludes $486,456 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> Tag 43 - Net income avaliable to common stockholders: $148,578
<F4> Tag 54 - Allowance-close includes $164,378 related to purchased loans
</FN>

        


</TABLE>