<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 291,574 690,403 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 615,000 1,126,000 <TRADING-ASSETS> 28,729 17,027 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 497,269 680,484 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 4,179 4,007 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 4,179 4,007 <LOANS> 2,153,492 3,040,697 <ALLOWANCE> (38,642) (55,635) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,711,047 5,710,696 <DEPOSITS> 3,275,229 5,066,414 <SHORT-TERM> 68,623 124,993 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 64,215 73,154 <LONG-TERM> 4,450 76,562 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 230,163 239,674 <OTHER-SE> 68,367 129,898 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 3,711,047 5,710,696 <INTEREST-LOAN> 49,170 70,043 <INTEREST-INVEST> 7,199 9,413 <INTEREST-OTHER> 2,364 4,615 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 58,733 84,071 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 17,355 20,357 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 18,572 23,434 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 40,161 60,637 <LOAN-LOSSES> 3,290 5,839 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 234 4 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 39,714 50,083 <INCOME-PRETAX> 13,286 22,818 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 8,032 13,375 <EXTRAORDINARY> (79) 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,953 13,375 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.21 0.34 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.20 0.32 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 5.74 6.14 <LOANS-NON> 16,994 12,254 <LOANS-PAST> 0 0 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 25,395 22,565 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 36,051 51,143 <CHARGE-OFFS> 933 1,738 <RECOVERIES> 201 391 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 38,642 55,635 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 38,642 55,635 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0<F1> 0 <FN> <F1>RESTATEMENT OF EARNINGS PER SHARE DATA FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997, TO REFLECT THE ADOPTION OF SFAS NO. 128, "EARNINGS PER SHARE." </FN>