<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 72,149 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 0 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 53,000 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 2,677,072 <ALLOWANCE> (15,150) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,092,515 <DEPOSITS> 1,596,003 <SHORT-TERM> 910,500 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 433,889 <LONG-TERM> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 137 <OTHER-SE> 151,986 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 3,092,515 <INTEREST-LOAN> 48,489 <INTEREST-INVEST> 1,062 <INTEREST-OTHER> 67 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 49,618 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 21,134 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 35,985 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 13,633 <LOAN-LOSSES> 4,599 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 19,650 <INCOME-PRETAX> 18,105 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 18,105 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10,305 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.76 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.73 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 1.74 <LOANS-NON> 35,066 <LOANS-PAST> 0 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 12,000 <CHARGE-OFFS> 825 <RECOVERIES> (26) <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 15,150 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 15,150 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0