<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 55,104 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 191,406 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 4,473 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 32,355 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 1,868,771 <ALLOWANCE> 32,044 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,432,604 <DEPOSITS> 1,244,409 <SHORT-TERM> 483,756 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 122,311 <LONG-TERM> 289,803 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 147,381 <OTHER-SE> 124,676 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 2,432,604 <INTEREST-LOAN> 150,469 <INTEREST-INVEST> 16,247 <INTEREST-OTHER> 2,141 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 168,857 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 54,155 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 95,145 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 73,712 <LOAN-LOSSES> 18,165 <SECURITIES-GAINS> (403) <EXPENSE-OTHER> 94,843 <INCOME-PRETAX> 78,051 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 39,694 <EXTRAORDINARY> (3,995) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 35,699 <EPS-PRIMARY> .87 <EPS-DILUTED> .87 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.45 <LOANS-NON> 65,006 <LOANS-PAST> 0 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 19,999 <CHARGE-OFFS> (12,671) <RECOVERIES> 654 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 32,044 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 32,044 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0