<ARTICLE> 9
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                         150,163                 150,163
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                              75                      75
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                37,014                  37,014
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0                       0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    588,106                 588,106
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0                       0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0                       0
<LOANS>                                      3,496,528               3,496,528
<ALLOWANCE>                                     46,041                  46,041
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,413,434               4,413,434
<DEPOSITS>                                   3,695,300               3,695,300
<SHORT-TERM>                                   170,069                 170,069
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             54,094                  54,094
<LONG-TERM>                                     94,866                  94,866
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                       119,031                 119,031
<OTHER-SE>                                     280,074                 280,074
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               4,413,434               4,413,434
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 75,292                 217,646
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               10,356                  32,225
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                85,648                 249,871
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              33,133                  95,733
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              36,903                 107,107
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           48,745                 142,764
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    5,245                  12,197
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               (755)                   (812)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 61,340                 139,686
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (6,173)                  25,435
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     (4,951)                  17,253
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (4,951)                  17,253
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.27)                     .91
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.27)                     .91
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    8.42                    8.37
<LOANS-NON>                                     20,251                  20,251
<LOANS-PAST>                                       662                     662
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                   487                     487
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 23,900                  23,900
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                45,198                  42,166
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    5,085                  10,862
<RECOVERIES>                                       683                   2,540
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               46,041                  46,041
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            31,077                  31,077
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         14,964                  14,964