<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 534,682 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 1,529,000 <TRADING-ASSETS> 58,456 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 602,552 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 3,933 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 3,933 <LOANS> 3,411,826 <ALLOWANCE> 61,415 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 6,318,383 <DEPOSITS> 5,664,650 <SHORT-TERM> 121,047 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 86,604 <LONG-TERM> 75,463 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 229,844 <OTHER-SE> 140,775 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 6,318,383 <INTEREST-LOAN> 219,120 <INTEREST-INVEST> 29,269 <INTEREST-OTHER> 17,454 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 265,843 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 66,037 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 75,677 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 190,166 <LOAN-LOSSES> 25,576 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 123 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 164,933 <INCOME-PRETAX> 43,195 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 26,843 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.68 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.65 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 5.89 <LOANS-NON> 34,508 <LOANS-PAST> 0 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 27,591 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 51,143 <CHARGE-OFFS> 16,731 <RECOVERIES> 1,427 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 61,415 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 61,415 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0