<ARTICLE>   9

<PERIOD-TYPE>                                     9-MOS

<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                 DEC-31-1998

<PERIOD-START>                                    JAN-1-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                      SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                                   134,977
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                     8,269
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                          28,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                              601,048
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                   601,048
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                     601,048
<LOANS>                                                3,020,278
<ALLOWANCE>                                               43,600
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                         4,363,014
<DEPOSITS>                                             3,685,171
<SHORT-TERM>                                              55,525
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                       63,075
<LONG-TERM>                                              170,123
<COMMON>                                                 111,980
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                          0
<PREFERRED>                                                    0
<OTHER-SE>                                               277,140
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                         4,363,014
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                          197,266
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                         31,564
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                          21,876
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                         250,706
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                       113,998
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                       122,890
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                    127,816
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                              9,784
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                           244
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                           92,752
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                           60,548
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                                60,548
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                              43,645
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                0.90
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                0.89
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                               4.30
<LOANS-NON>                                                4,678
<LOANS-PAST>                                               6,093
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                             635
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                                0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                          39,877
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                              7,668
<RECOVERIES>                                               1,607
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                         43,600
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                      43,600
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                            0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                        0