<ARTICLE>                                            9
       

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                 SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                          41,941
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                              68
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               437,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    659,213
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      1,322,963
<ALLOWANCE>                                     54,325
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,488,733
<DEPOSITS>                                   2,101,808
<SHORT-TERM>                                   158,766
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             42,771
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        27,931
<OTHER-SE>                                     157,457
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               2,488,733
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 83,413
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               30,121
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                17,857
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               131,391
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              61,689
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              67,018
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           64,373
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    3,380
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 271
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 34,585
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 41,024
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      41,024
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    26,253
<EPS-PRIMARY>                           <F1>      0.98
<EPS-DILUTED>                           <F2>      0.94
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.75
<LOANS-NON>                                      6,225
<LOANS-PAST>                                       567
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                 3,623
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                53,455
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    4,798
<RECOVERIES>                                     2,288
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               54,325
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         54,325<FN>
<F1> EPS is reported as "Basic EPS" as prescribed by Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 128.
<F2> EPS is reported as "Diluted EPS" as prescribed by Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 128.
</FN>