<ARTICLE> 9
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000 
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997             MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                          29,093                  74,247
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                          88,670                   3,369
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0                       0
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<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     24,180                  59,116
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0                       0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0                       0
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<ALLOWANCE>                                     23,310                  19,999
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<SHORT-TERM>                                   384,402                 834,852
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             83,059                 163,886
<LONG-TERM>                                    219,782                 163,209
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<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                       146,767                 145,521
<OTHER-SE>                                      96,014                  88,977
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<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 42,930                  45,194
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                5,625                   2,185
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   657                   2,141
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                49,212                  49,520
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              17,145                  15,039
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              28,404                  36,783
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           20,808                  12,737
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    2,870                   1,500
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0                       0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 21,287                  28,708
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 19,161                  17,057
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      11,032                   8,616
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  3,995                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     7,037                   8,616
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .17                     .24
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .17                     .24
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.28                    3.68
<LOANS-NON>                                     51,617                  50,109
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0                       0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0                       0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                19,999                  13,729
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    2,022                   1,921
<RECOVERIES>                                       286                      28
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<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            23,310                  13,336
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0                       0