<ARTICLE> 9 <LEGEND> (Replace this text with the legend) </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 44,431 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 2,429 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 33,850 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,394,179 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 1,151,456 <ALLOWANCE> 16,577 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,671,414 <DEPOSITS> 1,632,110 <SHORT-TERM> 265,000 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 39,318 <LONG-TERM> 35,042 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 451 <OTHER-SE> 699,493 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 2,671,414 <INTEREST-LOAN> 22,634 <INTEREST-INVEST> 21,350 <INTEREST-OTHER> 482 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 44,466 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 12,257 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 16,090 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 28,376 <LOAN-LOSSES> 501 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 583 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 12,172 <INCOME-PRETAX> 18,435 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 18,435 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10,597 <EPS-PRIMARY> .25 <EPS-DILUTED> .25 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 7.28 <LOANS-NON> 22,120 <LOANS-PAST> 0 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 2,377 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 15,709 <CHARGE-OFFS> 0 <RECOVERIES> 367 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 16,577 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 16,577 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0