<ARTICLE>                                            9
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                         32,614
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               39,040
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    195,367
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         6,996
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           6,975
<LOANS>                                        5,283,838
<ALLOWANCE>                                    30,918
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 5,853,968
<DEPOSITS>                                     4,782,794
<SHORT-TERM>                                   533,616
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            54,482
<LONG-TERM>                                    65,416
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       268
<OTHER-SE>                                     417,392
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 5,853,968
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                298,214
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              11,747
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               309,961
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             166,982
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             30,024
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          112,955
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  5,606
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                76,933
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                54,778
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     31,197
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   31,197
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.16
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                 7.66
<LOANS-NON>                                    42,159
<LOANS-PAST>                                   0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                1,310
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               30,094
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  5,427
<RECOVERIES>                                   645
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              30,918
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           30,918
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                            0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        2,800