<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 102,768 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 40,950 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 773,136 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 71,649 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 72,347 <LOANS> 2,627,123 <ALLOWANCE> 34,321 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,779,973 <DEPOSITS> 2,919,735 <SHORT-TERM> 93,230 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 41,112 <LONG-TERM> 365,935 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 67,770 <OTHER-SE> 292,191 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 3,779,973 <INTEREST-LOAN> 113,637 <INTEREST-INVEST> 24,582 <INTEREST-OTHER> 2,179 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 140,398 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 53,763 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 66,641 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 73,757 <LOAN-LOSSES> 2,485 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 28 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 54,733 <INCOME-PRETAX> 31,571 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 10,101 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 21,470 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.63 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.63 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.32 <LOANS-NON> 21,992 <LOANS-PAST> 6,768 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 1,095 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 34,550 <CHARGE-OFFS> 3,466 <RECOVERIES> 752 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 34,321 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 34,321 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0