<ARTICLE> 9 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 36,189 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 22,924 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 817,849 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 235,817 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 236,215 <LOANS> 1,615,215 <ALLOWANCE> 15,779 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,918,160 <DEPOSITS> 1,606,669 <SHORT-TERM> 0 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 35,739 <LONG-TERM> 1,090,808 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 86 <OTHER-SE> 184,858 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 2,918,160 <INTEREST-LOAN> 31,364 <INTEREST-INVEST> 16,540 <INTEREST-OTHER> 813 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 48,717 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 17,498 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 31,698 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 17,019 <LOAN-LOSSES> 900 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 14,992 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8,613 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 5,783 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,783 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.65 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.65 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 7.24 <LOANS-NON> 7,724 <LOANS-PAST> 0 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 14,390 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 19,818 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 17,811 <CHARGE-OFFS> 3,086 <RECOVERIES> 154 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 15,779 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 15,779 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0