<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 130,834 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 5,243 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 46,020 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 250,578 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 347,713 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 349,114 <LOANS> 1,498,262 <ALLOWANCE> 18,006 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,376,327 <DEPOSITS> 2,025,487 <SHORT-TERM> 81,262 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 19,176 <LONG-TERM> 15,359 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 40,361 <OTHER-SE> 194,682 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 2,376,327 <INTEREST-LOAN> 67,644 <INTEREST-INVEST> 18,372 <INTEREST-OTHER> 1,850 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 87,866 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 34,628 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,783 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 51,455 <LOAN-LOSSES> 1,912 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 428 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 36,818 <INCOME-PRETAX> 23,381 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 23,381 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 15,389 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.76 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.76 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.88 <LOANS-NON> 8,109 <LOANS-PAST> 10,230 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 81 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 16,053 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 17,936 <CHARGE-OFFS> 2,633 <RECOVERIES> 791 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 18,006 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 18,006 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0