<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 295,281 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 444 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 47,259 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 592,935 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 233,506 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 232,773 <LOANS> 3,446,452 <ALLOWANCE> 132,885 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,710,444 <DEPOSITS> 3,657,070 <SHORT-TERM> 516,315 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 55,044 <LONG-TERM> 9,800 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 46,700 <OTHER-SE> 425,515 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 4,710,444 <INTEREST-LOAN> 145,028 <INTEREST-INVEST> 25,240 <INTEREST-OTHER> 1,735 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 172,003 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 34,526 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 49,439 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 122,564 <LOAN-LOSSES> 0 <SECURITIES-GAINS> (539) <EXPENSE-OTHER> 89,239 <INCOME-PRETAX> 59,364 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 37,561 <EPS-PRIMARY> .79 <EPS-DILUTED> .79 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.55 <LOANS-NON> 40,782 <LOANS-PAST> 19,856 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 5,617 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 137,105<F1> <CHARGE-OFFS> 11,661 <RECOVERIES> 7,441 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 132,885 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 0 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0 <FN> <F1>ADJUSTED FOR ACQUISITION OF VENTURA, FRONTIER & RIVERSIDE BANKS </FN>