<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 54651 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 619330 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 109072 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 109705 <LOANS> 2565113 <ALLOWANCE> 25210 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3496331 <DEPOSITS> 2988050 <SHORT-TERM> 80706 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 85813 <LONG-TERM> 20061 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 157 <OTHER-SE> 321544 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 3496331 <INTEREST-LOAN> 52897 <INTEREST-INVEST> 11230 <INTEREST-OTHER> 303 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 64430 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 30152 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 31394 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 33036 <LOAN-LOSSES> 1800 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 19806 <INCOME-PRETAX> 14687 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 9317 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 9317 <EPS-PRIMARY> .67 <EPS-DILUTED> .67 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 3.96 <LOANS-NON> 21847 <LOANS-PAST> 6488 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 24114 <CHARGE-OFFS> 1249 <RECOVERIES> 545 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 25210 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 19923 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 5287