<ARTICLE> 9 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> APR-1-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 11,471 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 5,844 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 553,737 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 421,541 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 416,534 <LOANS> 826,462 <ALLOWANCE> 14,981 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,888,847 <DEPOSITS> 807,477 <SHORT-TERM> 584,205 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 15,505 <LONG-TERM> 343,593 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 73 <OTHER-SE> 137,994 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 1,888,847 <INTEREST-LOAN> 34,776 <INTEREST-INVEST> 33,080 <INTEREST-OTHER> 276 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 68,132 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 16,345 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 41,797 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 26,335 <LOAN-LOSSES> 2,010 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 14 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 27,538 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,137 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 7345 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7345 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.62 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.62 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 2.98 <LOANS-NON> 10,622 <LOANS-PAST> 0 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 6007 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 13,124 <CHARGE-OFFS> 199 <RECOVERIES> 46 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 14981 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 14981 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0