<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 28,704 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 55,277 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 49,625 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 163,507 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 316,434 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 314,923 <LOANS> 2,494,954 <ALLOWANCE> 18,010 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,236,449 <DEPOSITS> 2,291,065 <SHORT-TERM> 50,000 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 551,114 <LONG-TERM> 26,726 <COMMON> 169 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 254,941 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 3,236,449 <INTEREST-LOAN> 47,524 <INTEREST-INVEST> 2,792 <INTEREST-OTHER> 7,651 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 57,967 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 23,789 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 34,415 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 23,552 <LOAN-LOSSES> 300 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 78 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 12,955 <INCOME-PRETAX> 15,238 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 9,286 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 9,286 <EPS-PRIMARY> .57 <EPS-DILUTED> .57 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 3.08 <LOANS-NON> 13,377 <LOANS-PAST> 1,686 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 17,914 <CHARGE-OFFS> 206 <RECOVERIES> 2 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 18,010 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 0 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 18,010