<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 138,346 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 2,937 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 154 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 801,311 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 19,498 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 19,782 <LOANS> 2,080,729 <ALLOWANCE> 33,841 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,167,793 <DEPOSITS> 2,413,242 <SHORT-TERM> 427,143 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 45,972 <LONG-TERM> 0 <COMMON> 168 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 281,268 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 3,167,793 <INTEREST-LOAN> 139,325 <INTEREST-INVEST> 37,373 <INTEREST-OTHER> 1,362 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 178,061 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 62,510 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 81,673 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 96,388 <LOAN-LOSSES> 5,466 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 829 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 73,936 <INCOME-PRETAX> 41,983 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 27,281 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 27,281 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.63 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.63 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.62 <LOANS-NON> 10,348 <LOANS-PAST> 3,235 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 27,587 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 30,148 <CHARGE-OFFS> 8,269 <RECOVERIES> 6,496 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 33,841 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 9,928 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 23,913