<ARTICLE> 9
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                       5,188,951
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                      13,300,543
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                 47,677,378
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                    754,806,061
<ALLOWANCE>                                  4,730,407
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             852,887,913
<DEPOSITS>                                 562,412,067
<SHORT-TERM>                                72,357,552
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                         10,248,122
<LONG-TERM>                                140,335,382
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    48,453,905
<OTHER-SE>                                  19,080,885
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>             852,887,913
<INTEREST-LOAN>                             57,570,229
<INTEREST-INVEST>                            3,457,481
<INTEREST-OTHER>                             1,473,760
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                            62,501,470
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                          24,477,571
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          37,131,620
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                       25,369,850
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  360,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                            (29,321)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                             15,761,928
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             15,648,528
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                  15,648,528
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                10,672,528
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.39
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.34
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.06
<LOANS-NON>                                    883,194
<LOANS-PAST>                                    15,622
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 24,345
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                             4,563,594
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  247,432
<RECOVERIES>                                    54,245
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                            4,730,407
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                         4,699,588
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        183,446