<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 268,911 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 1,160 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 60,000 <TRADING-ASSETS> 39,639 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 602,631 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 214,820 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 212,117 <LOANS> 3,302,001 <ALLOWANCE> 137,614 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,583,645 <DEPOSITS> 3,639,997 <SHORT-TERM> 392,470 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 51,103 <LONG-TERM> 34,800 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 46,695 <OTHER-SE> 418,580 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 4,583,365 <INTEREST-LOAN> 70,011 <INTEREST-INVEST> 12,545 <INTEREST-OTHER> 751 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 83,307 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 16,494 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 23,535 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 59,772 <LOAN-LOSSES> 0 <SECURITIES-GAINS> (277) <EXPENSE-OTHER> 43,925 <INCOME-PRETAX> 28,472 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 18,003 <EPS-PRIMARY> .38 <EPS-DILUTED> .38 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.47 <LOANS-NON> 40,675 <LOANS-PAST> 17,718 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 5,744 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 137,105<F1> <CHARGE-OFFS> 3,756 <RECOVERIES> 4,265 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 137,614 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 137,614 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0 <FN> <F1>ADJUSTED FOR ACQUISITION OF VENTURA, FRONTIER, & RIVERSIDE BANKS. </FN>