<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <CASH> 97,310 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 60,764 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 528,350 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 98,321 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 99,057 <LOANS> 2,414,730 <ALLOWANCE> 33,799 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,335,546 <DEPOSITS> 2,733,346 <SHORT-TERM> 104,832 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 47,789 <LONG-TERM> 130,278 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 44,016 <OTHER-SE> 275,285 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 3,335,546 <INTEREST-LOAN> 107,472 <INTEREST-INVEST> 18,921 <INTEREST-OTHER> 1,952 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 128,345 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 49,755 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 56,528 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 71,817 <LOAN-LOSSES> 2,426 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 48 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 53,414 <INCOME-PRETAX> 26,882 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 26,882 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 18,461 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.84 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.84 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.54 <LOANS-NON> 26,029 <LOANS-PAST> 7,173 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 33,800 <CHARGE-OFFS> 3,029 <RECOVERIES> 602 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 33,799 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 33,799 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0