<ARTICLE> 9
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 3-MOS 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 MAR-31-1997 MAR-31-1996
<CASH> 71,948 29,093 34,946
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 118,249 88,670 6,703
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 0 0
<TRADING-ASSETS> 40,498 23,734 0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 119,718 24,180 5,963
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 0 0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 0 0
<LOANS> 1,586,365 1,736,779 1,720,117
<ALLOWANCE> 35,120 23,310 13,336
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,195,502 2,096,241 1,944,414
<DEPOSITS> 1,280,062 1,161,357 1,023,906
<SHORT-TERM> 172,713 384,402 650,032
<LIABILITIES-OTHER> 118,928 83,059 79,418
<LONG-TERM> 289,824 219,782 88,129
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 0
<PREFERRED> 0 0 0
<COMMON> 144,170 146,767 78,110
<OTHER-SE> 187,798 96,014 21,609
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 2,195,502 2,096,241 1,944,414
<INTEREST-LOAN> 45,536 42,930 45,194
<INTEREST-INVEST> 4,972 5,625 2,185
<INTEREST-OTHER> 3,132 657 2,141
<INTEREST-TOTAL> 53,640 49,212 49,520
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 18,287 17,002 15,078
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 27,594 28,404 36,783
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 26,046 20,808 12,737
<LOAN-LOSSES> 3,850 2,870 1,500
<SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 0 0
<EXPENSE-OTHER> 27,613 21,287 28,708
<INCOME-PRETAX> 20,816 19,161 17,057
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 12,900 11,032 8,616
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 (3,995) 0
<CHANGES> 0 0 0
<NET-INCOME> 12,900 7,037 8,616
<EPS-PRIMARY> .33 .18 .27
<EPS-DILUTED> .32 .17 .24
<YIELD-ACTUAL> 0 4.28 3.68
<LOANS-NON> 67,904 51,617 37,181
<LOANS-PAST> 0 0 0
<LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 800 1,323
<LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 0 0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 38,047 19,999 13,729
<CHARGE-OFFS> 7,590 2,022 1,921
<RECOVERIES> 813 286 28
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 35,120 23,310 13,336
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 35,120 23,310 13,336
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 0 0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0 0 0<F1>
<FN>
<F1>*Restate March 31, 1997 and 1996 Financial Data Schedule per FAS 128.
</FN>