<ARTICLE>                                            9
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                         11,204
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               6,095
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    208,697
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         6,885
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           6,885
<LOANS>                                        5,317,097
<ALLOWANCE>                                    32,092
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 5,835,825
<DEPOSITS>                                     4,869,978
<SHORT-TERM>                                   403,408
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            51,766
<LONG-TERM>                                    80,327
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       268
<OTHER-SE>                                     430,078
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 5,838,825
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                404,081
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              16,337
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               420,418
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             227,521
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             38,739
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          154,158
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  8,640
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                101,272
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                79,434
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     45,234
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   45,234
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.69
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.69
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                 7.72
<LOANS-NON>                                    41,699
<LOANS-PAST>                                   0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                1,803
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               30,094
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  7,773
<RECOVERIES>                                   1,131
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              32,092
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           32,092
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                            0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        2,800