<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