<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 76,501 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 153,000 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 698,992 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 76,101 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 77,767 <LOANS> 2,911,756 <ALLOWANCE> 30,475 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,156,852 <DEPOSITS> 3,525,928 <SHORT-TERM> 29,276 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 173,291 <LONG-TERM> 35,061 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 157 <OTHER-SE> 393,139 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 4,156,852 <INTEREST-LOAN> 172,482 <INTEREST-INVEST> 38,475 <INTEREST-OTHER> 7,064 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 218,021 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 106,562 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 108,467 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 109,554 <LOAN-LOSSES> 5,400 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 93 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 72,403 <INCOME-PRETAX> 47,762 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 30,923 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 30,923 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.37<F1> <EPS-DILUTED> 2.23 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 3.80 <LOANS-NON> 19,261 <LOANS-PAST> 7,503 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 29,117 <CHARGE-OFFS> 4,841 <RECOVERIES> 799 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 30,475 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 19,284 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 11,191 <FN> <F1>EPS PRIMARY TAG REPRESENTS EPS BASIC