<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE JUNE 30,
1999 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999
<CASH>                                      75,080,865
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                       2,097,205
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                23,000
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                582,290,103
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                      34,385,857
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                        34,867,000
<LOANS>                                  1,103,313,424
<ALLOWANCE>                                 14,298,867
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,939,743,473
<DEPOSITS>                               1,472,869,377
<SHORT-TERM>                               276,295,413
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                         19,943,942
<LONG-TERM>                                 38,283,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    51,203,795
<OTHER-SE>                                  81,147,946
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>           1,939,743,473
<INTEREST-LOAN>                             44,636,242
<INTEREST-INVEST>                           17,440,320
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               620,256
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                            62,696,818
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                          25,372,518
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          32,114,447
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                       30,582,371
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                2,100,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             206,919
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                             32,697,225
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             12,151,063
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                  12,151,063
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 8,807,468
<EPS-BASIC>                                      .43
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .42
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.47
<LOANS-NON>                                  8,183,000
<LOANS-PAST>                                 2,077,000
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               426,000
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                            14,172,264
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                3,158,849
<RECOVERIES>                                 1,185,452
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                           14,298,867
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                        14,298,867
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0