<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 JUL-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 135,494 135,494 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 212 212 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 38,536 38,536 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 563,651 563,651 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 0 <LOANS> 2,588,323 2,588,323 <ALLOWANCE> 35,337 35,337 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,468,007 3,468,007 <DEPOSITS> 2,848,817 2,848,817 <SHORT-TERM> 178,333 178,333 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 45,714 45,714 <LONG-TERM> 85,356 85,356 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 91,394 91,394 <OTHER-SE> 218,393 218,393 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 3,468,007 3,468,007 <INTEREST-LOAN> 163,590 55,808 <INTEREST-INVEST> 27,692 8,593 <INTEREST-OTHER> 0 0 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 191,282 64,401 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 71,755 23,901 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 81,971 27,202 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 109,311 37,199 <LOAN-LOSSES> 6,563 3,021 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 80 21 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 94,867 32,190 <INCOME-PRETAX> 38,614 13,433 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 27,604 9,603 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 27,604 9,603 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.88 .65 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.88 .65 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.23 8.25 <LOANS-NON> 16,642 16,642 <LOANS-PAST> 637 637 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 520 520 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 8,300 8,300 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 34,771 35,256 <CHARGE-OFFS> 8,622 3,927 <RECOVERIES> 2,625 987 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 35,337 35,337 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 27,214 27,214 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 8,123 8,123