<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition at September 30, 1998 and
the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the nine months Ended
September 30, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                          35,049
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                       1,464,609
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    839,570
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      1,312,586
<ALLOWANCE>                                     13,791
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,322,466
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,627,832
<SHORT-TERM>                                   179,678
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             84,887
<LONG-TERM>                                    307,533
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           100
<OTHER-SE>                                     122,436
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               2,322,466
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 73,060
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               38,614
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               111,674
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              48,159
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              69,092
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           42,582
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    1,990
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               1,591
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 54,089
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  7,560
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       7,560
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,620
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.66<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.61
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    7.29
<LOANS-NON>                                      7,102
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                 1,980
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 18,276
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                12,528
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    1,767
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,040
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               13,791
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            13,791
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
<FN>
<F1>EPS          1997         1996
Basic:       0.96         0.71
Diluted      0.90         0.68

Per share amendments reflect the 2 - for - 1 stock split effective
November 1997.
</FN>