<ARTICLE> 9                                                  Exhibit 27(a)
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE YEAR-
END CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                         397,361
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               173,794
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                   149
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  1,309,955
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         408,683
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           410,620
<LOANS>                                      4,317,631
<ALLOWANCE>                                     79,970
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,887,252
<DEPOSITS>                                   5,947,690
<SHORT-TERM>                                   203,105
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             80,161
<LONG-TERM>                                      5,103
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       112,736
<OTHER-SE>                                     538,377
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               6,887,252
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                387,744
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              109,400
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                    26
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               497,170
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             203,144
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             214,202
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          282,968
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   28,332
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                (87)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                241,302
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                128,136
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      84,634
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 15,425
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   100,059
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.67
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.64
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.69
<LOANS-NON>                                     32,381
<LOANS-PAST>                                     9,841
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                   914
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                62,495
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   18,716
<RECOVERIES>                                     4,764
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               79,970
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            57,455
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         22,515