<ARTICLE> 9
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                      YEAR                      YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997               DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997               JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997               DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                         316,600                   325,014                 242,018
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0                         0                       0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               765,000                   357,000                 425,300
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                35,782                    64,887                  40,050
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    669,266                   426,336                 295,312
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                           4,026                     4,193                   4,975
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                             4,026                     4,193                   4,975
<LOANS>                                      2,788,608                 2,063,048               1,699,347
<ALLOWANCE>                                   (51,143)                  (36,051)                (37,402)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,726,279                 3,350,170               2,788,374
<DEPOSITS>                                   4,174,598                 2,950,277               2,363,616
<SHORT-TERM>                                    55,915                    44,897                 159,636
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             61,966                    58,247                  25,404
<LONG-TERM>                                     76,571                     4,455                   5,906
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                         0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                         0                       0
<COMMON>                                       236,186                   163,748                 130,780
<OTHER-SE>                                     115,838                   122,603                  97,456
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               4,726,279                 3,350,170               2,788,374
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                233,124                   173,734                 143,627
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               36,004                    24,952                  21,176
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                13,844                    10,470                   9,976
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               282,972                   209,156                 174,779
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              72,786                    64,551                  55,491
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              81,637                    68,054                  60,154
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          201,335                   141,102                 114,625
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   22,892                     6,881                  16,122
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 987                       229                     260
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                169,031                   128,132                 110,324
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 91,050                   105,580                  31,725
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      54,548                    62,302                  21,654
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    629                   (8,168)                   1,523
<CHANGES>                                            0                         0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    55,177                    54,134                  23,177
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.41                      1.66                    0.60
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.34                      1.59                    0.57
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    6.20                       5.8                     5.7
<LOANS-NON>                                     10,578                    20,390                  28,926
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0                         0                       0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                23,970                    28,681                  33,608
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0                         0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                36,051                    37,402                  40,072
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   10,365                    11,025                  20,962
<RECOVERIES>                                     2,568                     2,778                   2,170
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               51,143                    36,051                  37,402
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0                         0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                         0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0                         0                       0
<FN>
RESTATEMENT OF EARNINGS PER SHARE DATA FOR 1996 AND 1995 TO REFLECT THE ADOPTION
OF SFAS NO. 128, "EARNINGS PER SHARE." EARNINGS PER SHARE DATA IS FOR CONTINUING
OPERATIONS.
</FN>