<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-1-1998 OCT-1-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1998 <CASH> 140,543 140,543 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 304 304 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 25,935 25,935 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 613,529 613,529 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 0 <LOANS> 3,584,511 3,584,511 <ALLOWANCE> 46,449 46,449 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,501,409 4,501,409 <DEPOSITS> 3,764,356 3,764,356 <SHORT-TERM> 124,307 124,307 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 40,727 40,727 <LONG-TERM> 130,937 130,937 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 117,525 117,525 <OTHER-SE> 323,557 323,557 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 4,501,409 4,501,409 <INTEREST-LOAN> 301,138 74,150 <INTEREST-INVEST> 38,742 9,598 <INTEREST-OTHER> 0 0 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 339,880 83,748 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 127,966 30,815 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 142,034 34,176 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 197,846 49,572 <LOAN-LOSSES> 14,090 3,560 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 145 42 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 158,291 39,131 <INCOME-PRETAX> 81,717 21,437 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 56,785 14,991 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 56,785 14,991 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.02 0.53 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.98 0.53 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.91 4.92 <LOANS-NON> 21,791 21,791 <LOANS-PAST> 801 801 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 114 114 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 14,500 14,500 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 45,911 47,136 <CHARGE-OFFS> 17,379 5,439 <RECOVERIES> 3,827 1,192 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 46,449 46,449 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 34,200 34,200 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 12,249 12,249