<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE DECEMBER
31, 1997 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                      77,468,210
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                       1,319,700
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                             9,300,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                77,220
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                486,653,872
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                      69,079,622
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                        69,852,000
<LOANS>                                    993,189,110
<ALLOWANCE>                               (12,732,131)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,718,483,797
<DEPOSITS>                               1,364,270,491
<SHORT-TERM>                               166,332,576
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                         21,839,431
<LONG-TERM>                                 36,662,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    43,335,120
<OTHER-SE>                                  86,044,179
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>           1,718,483,797
<INTEREST-LOAN>                             86,020,464
<INTEREST-INVEST>                           30,357,924
<INTEREST-OTHER>                             1,860,979
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                           118,239,367
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                          49,310,346
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           8,795,257
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                       60,133,764
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                3,900,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             493,822
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                             58,441,818
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             25,297,735
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                  25,297,735
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                18,010,107
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.03<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.01<F1>
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.93
<LOANS-NON>                                  3,227,000
<LOANS-PAST>                                 2,972,000
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               513,000
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                500,000
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                            11,328,359
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                4,229,385
<RECOVERIES>                                 1,733,157
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                           12,732,131
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                        12,732,131
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Restated for 2-for-1 stock split, effective February 1998.
</FN>