<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE DECEMBER
31, 1998 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-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                      76,460,049
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                       2,167,288
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                             6,000,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                605,183,788
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                      43,027,501
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                        44,011,000
<LOANS>                                  1,033,554,556
<ALLOWANCE>                               (14,172,264)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,939,556,765
<DEPOSITS>                               1,496,675,131
<SHORT-TERM>                               242,897,300
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                         23,228,015
<LONG-TERM>                                 41,546,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    46,880,953
<OTHER-SE>                                  88,329,366
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>           1,939,556,765
<INTEREST-LOAN>                             89,739,711
<INTEREST-INVEST>                           32,450,999
<INTEREST-OTHER>                             1,835,083
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                           124,025,793
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                          50,772,501
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          11,865,966
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                       61,387,326
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                4,200,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             665,450
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                             62,111,877
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             28,433,276
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                  28,433,276
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                20,350,921
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.07
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.05
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.73
<LOANS-NON>                                  8,099,000
<LOANS-PAST>                                 2,901,000
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               289,000
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                900,000
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                            12,732,131
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                4,407,372
<RECOVERIES>                                 1,647,505
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                           14,172,264
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                        14,172,264
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0