<ARTICLE> 9 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 133,498 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 1,795 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 5,871 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,072,764 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 26,720 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 27,060 <LOANS> 2,282,947 <ALLOWANCE> 35,822 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,728,947 <DEPOSITS> 2,800,167 <SHORT-TERM> 548,345 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 41,180 <LONG-TERM> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 201 <OTHER-SE> 339,054 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 3,728,947 <INTEREST-LOAN> 51,957 <INTEREST-INVEST> 15,694 <INTEREST-OTHER> 856 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 68,507 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 25,565 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 31,918 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 36,589 <LOAN-LOSSES> 1,118 <SECURITIES-GAINS> (40) <EXPENSE-OTHER> 28,444 <INCOME-PRETAX> 16,798 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 11,442 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,442 <EPS-PRIMARY> .57 <EPS-DILUTED> .56 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.48 <LOANS-NON> 19,272 <LOANS-PAST> 9,080 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 20,256 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 37,344 <CHARGE-OFFS> 3,455 <RECOVERIES> 815 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 35,822 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 11,310 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 24,512