<ARTICLE> 9 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 215,564 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 11,058 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 10,750 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,418,066 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 245,361 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 244,906 <LOANS> 4,140,583 <ALLOWANCE> 58,762 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 6,376,713 <DEPOSITS> 4,748,245 <SHORT-TERM> 745,763 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 82,819 <LONG-TERM> 308,519 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 189,276 <OTHER-SE> 302,091 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 6,376,713 <INTEREST-LOAN> 95,226 <INTEREST-INVEST> 24,172 <INTEREST-OTHER> 445 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 119,843 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 43,185 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 55,958 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 63,885 <LOAN-LOSSES> 2,894 <SECURITIES-GAINS> (94) <EXPENSE-OTHER> 59,033 <INCOME-PRETAX> 27,943 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 27,943 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 17,874 <EPS-PRIMARY> .68 <EPS-DILUTED> .68 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.58 <LOANS-NON> 22,767 <LOANS-PAST> 11,055 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 12,500 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 58,715 <CHARGE-OFFS> 3,617 <RECOVERIES> 770 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 58,762 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 58,762 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 12,403