<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 351,892 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 207,000 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 25,239 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 2,063,526 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 2,052,041 <LOANS> 4,955,135 <ALLOWANCE> 81,459 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 7,975,617 <DEPOSITS> 6,911,806 <SHORT-TERM> 343,448 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 84,271 <LONG-TERM> 6,827 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 11,396 <OTHER-SE> 617,869 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 7,975,617 <INTEREST-LOAN> 103,808 <INTEREST-INVEST> 30,184 <INTEREST-OTHER> 2,447 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 136,439 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 57,377 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,329 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 74,733 <LOAN-LOSSES> 1,567 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 70,584 <INCOME-PRETAX> 25,996 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 25,996 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 16,592 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.46 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.46 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 7.68 <LOANS-NON> 14,628 <LOANS-PAST> 5,748 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 0 <CHARGE-OFFS> 3,538 <RECOVERIES> 2,001 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 81,459 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 81,459 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0