<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 108,859 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 44,511 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 43,121 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 503,148 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 116,760 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 117,142 <LOANS> 2,375,846 <ALLOWANCE> 33,624 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,308,590 <DEPOSITS> 2,739,815 <SHORT-TERM> 67,899 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 44,134 <LONG-TERM> 139,523 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 29,331 <OTHER-SE> 287,888 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 3,308,590 <INTEREST-LOAN> 52,802 <INTEREST-INVEST> 9,513 <INTEREST-OTHER> 977 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 63,292 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 24,658 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 27,973 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 35,319 <LOAN-LOSSES> 1,206 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 3 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 25,794 <INCOME-PRETAX> 13,649 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 13,649 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 9,456 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.65 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.65 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.49 <LOANS-NON> 22,049 <LOANS-PAST> 9,469 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 6,349 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 33,800 <CHARGE-OFFS> 1,742 <RECOVERIES> 360 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 33,624 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 33,624 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0