<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 120,857 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 738 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 80,157 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 243,691 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 373,177 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 377,632 <LOANS> 1,528,029 <ALLOWANCE> 18,262 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,444,902 <DEPOSITS> 2,081,073 <SHORT-TERM> 88,946 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 21,867 <LONG-TERM> 16,374 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 40,110 <OTHER-SE> 196,532 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 2,444,902 <INTEREST-LOAN> 102,402 <INTEREST-INVEST> 27,724 <INTEREST-OTHER> 2,764 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 132,890 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 52,554 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,872 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 77,464 <LOAN-LOSSES> 2,691 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 1,824 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 56,892 <INCOME-PRETAX> 35,380 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 35,380 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 23,274 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.15 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.15 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.82 <LOANS-NON> 10,472 <LOANS-PAST> 9,860 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 81 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 12,345 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 17,936 <CHARGE-OFFS> 3,323 <RECOVERIES> 958 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 18,262 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 18,262 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0