<ARTICLE> 9 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 25,591 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 668,500 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 517,285 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 4,152,743 <ALLOWANCE> 23,483 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,633,772 <DEPOSITS> 3,024,452 <SHORT-TERM> 1,378,990 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 124,651 <LONG-TERM> 350,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 56,334 <OTHER-SE> 699,345 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 5,633,772 <INTEREST-LOAN> 91,659 <INTEREST-INVEST> 23,272 <INTEREST-OTHER> 0 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 114,931 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 38,198 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 62,940 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 51,991 <LOAN-LOSSES> 172 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 1,591 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 11,537 <INCOME-PRETAX> 43,351 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 27,962 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 27,962 <EPS-PRIMARY> .53 <EPS-DILUTED> .53 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.07 <LOANS-NON> 18,687 <LOANS-PAST> 0 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 7,861 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 23,615 <CHARGE-OFFS> 162 <RECOVERIES> 30 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 23,483 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 18,109 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 5,374