<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 132,874 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 115 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 11,960 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 598,976 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 2,643,670 <ALLOWANCE> 36,975 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,519,792 <DEPOSITS> 2,922,679 <SHORT-TERM> 163,952 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 43,417 <LONG-TERM> 71,662 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 89,380 <OTHER-SE> 228,702 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 3,519,792 <INTEREST-LOAN> 56,312 <INTEREST-INVEST> 8,772 <INTEREST-OTHER> 0 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 65,084 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 24,243 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 27,637 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 37,447 <LOAN-LOSSES> 2,145 <SECURITIES-GAINS> (14) <EXPENSE-OTHER> 32,062 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,936 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 9,208 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 9,208 <EPS-PRIMARY> .63 <EPS-DILUTED> .63 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 8.28 <LOANS-NON> 19,929 <LOANS-PAST> 299 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 425 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 12,800 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 35,997 <CHARGE-OFFS> 1,814 <RECOVERIES> 646 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 36,974 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 24,957 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 12,017