<ARTICLE>                                            9
                        
                        
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     US Dollars
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-1-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                            1
<CASH>                                                41,328
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                     1
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     290,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                           0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                          670,809
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                       0
<LOANS>                                            1,255,944
<ALLOWANCE>                                           52,286
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     2,301,897
<DEPOSITS>                                         1,979,858
<SHORT-TERM>                                         115,245  
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                   37,901
<LONG-TERM>                                                0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                0
<COMMON>                                              21,006
<OTHER-SE>                                           147,887   
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                     2,301,897
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                       53,900
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                     22,281
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                       8,577
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                      84,758
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                    39,575
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    42,265
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                 42,493
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                          2,395
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                      (790)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                       22,791
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                       24,652
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                            24,652
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0
<CHANGES>                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                          15,446  
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                           0.73
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           0.73
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                          4.04
<LOANS-NON>                                            7,749
<LOANS-PAST>                                             995
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                       3,503
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                            0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                      51,561
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                          3,684
<RECOVERIES>                                           2,014
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                     52,286
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                       0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                        0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                               52,286