<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-1998 JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 166,854 166,854 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 64 64 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 2,358 2,358 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 616,152 616,152 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 0 <LOANS> 3,539,287 3,539,287 <ALLOWANCE> 47,136 47,136 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,462,543 4,462,543 <DEPOSITS> 3,647,756 3,647,756 <SHORT-TERM> 187,501 187,501 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 51,320 51,320 <LONG-TERM> 141,168 141,168 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 118,488 118,488 <OTHER-SE> 316,310 316,310 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 4,462,543 4,462,543 <INTEREST-LOAN> 75,848 226,988 <INTEREST-INVEST> 9,607 29,144 <INTEREST-OTHER> 0 0 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 85,455 256,132 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 31,951 97,151 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 35,419 107,858 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 50,036 148,274 <LOAN-LOSSES> 3,510 10,530 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 49 103 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 40,269 119,160 <INCOME-PRETAX> 20,995 60,280 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 14,589 41,794 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 14,589 41,794 <EPS-PRIMARY> .52 1.49 <EPS-DILUTED> .50 1.45 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.98 4.92 <LOANS-NON> 24,340 24,340 <LOANS-PAST> 908 908 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 134 134 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 22,300 22,300 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 46,956 45,911 <CHARGE-OFFS> 4,127 11,940 <RECOVERIES> 797 2,635 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 47,136 47,136 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 29,990 29,990 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 17,146 17,146