<ARTICLE> 9 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 157,103 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 11 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 42,000 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 663,622 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 2,487,431 <ALLOWANCE> 34,840 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,508,223 <DEPOSITS> 2,916,478 <SHORT-TERM> 157,531 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 48,635 <LONG-TERM> 85,432 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 92,202 <OTHER-SE> 207,945 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 3,508,223 <INTEREST-LOAN> 53,136 <INTEREST-INVEST> 9,833 <INTEREST-OTHER> 0 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 62,969 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 24,145 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 27,724 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 35,245 <LOAN-LOSSES> 1,771 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 52 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 30,824 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,190 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 8,741 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,741 <EPS-PRIMARY> .60 <EPS-DILUTED> .60 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.18 <LOANS-NON> 17,791 <LOANS-PAST> 517 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 502 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 11,600 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 34,771 <CHARGE-OFFS> 2,452 <RECOVERIES> 750 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 34,840 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 26,831 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 8,009