<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>