<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 86,788 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 507 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,153,552 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 2,208,361 <ALLOWANCE> 35,129 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,100,104 <DEPOSITS> 2,130,099 <SHORT-TERM> 712,349 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 599,641 <LONG-TERM> 324,992 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 26,397 <OTHER-SE> 306,626 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 4,100,104 <INTEREST-LOAN> 138,594 <INTEREST-INVEST> 54,131 <INTEREST-OTHER> 6,337 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 199,062 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 80,869 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 119,762 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 79,300 <LOAN-LOSSES> 11,137 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 2,259 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 191,194 <INCOME-PRETAX> (30,547) <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> (30,547) <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (15,459) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.59) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.59) <YIELD-ACTUAL> 3.35 <LOANS-NON> 13,142 <LOANS-PAST> 2,061 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 33,834 <CHARGE-OFFS> 13,078 <RECOVERIES> 3,236 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 35,129 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 35,129 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0