<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>