<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 OCT-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 168,351 168,351 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 246 246 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 11,976 11,976 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 575,382 575,382 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 0 <LOANS> 3,541,619 3,541,619 <ALLOWANCE> 45,911 45,911 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,439,271 4,439,271 <DEPOSITS> 3,694,346 3,694,346 <SHORT-TERM> 174,866 174,866 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 52,052 52,052 <LONG-TERM> 108,165 108,165 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 120,274 120,274 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 0 0 <OTHER-SE> 289,568 289,568 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 4,439,271 4,439,271 <INTEREST-LOAN> 294,258 76,611 <INTEREST-INVEST> 41,605 9,381 <INTEREST-OTHER> 0 0 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 335,863 85,992 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 129,267 33,535 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 144,015 36,908 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 191,848 49,084 <LOAN-LOSSES> 15,332 3,135 <SECURITIES-GAINS> (787) 25 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 177,161 37,475 <INCOME-PRETAX> 46,049 20,614 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 31,508 14,255 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 31,508 14,255 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.13 .51 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.11 .50 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.86 4.90 <LOANS-NON> 19,989 19,989 <LOANS-PAST> 1,185 1,185 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 446 446 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 22,000 22,000 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 42,166 46,041 <CHARGE-OFFS> 15,585 4,723 <RECOVERIES> 3,998 1,458 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 45,911 45,911 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 29,207 29,207 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 16,704 16,704