<ARTICLE> 9 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 25,803 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 16,370 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 510,771 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 418,030 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 416,572 <LOANS> 830,574 <ALLOWANCE> 16,894 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,875,091 <DEPOSITS> 833,822 <SHORT-TERM> 425,369 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 21,145 <LONG-TERM> 453,592 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 141,163 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 1,875,091 <INTEREST-LOAN> 52,963 <INTEREST-INVEST> 50,085 <INTEREST-OTHER> 410 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 103,458 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 24,391 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 63,216 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 40,242 <LOAN-LOSSES> 4,310 <SECURITIES-GAINS> (144) <EXPENSE-OTHER> 37,643 <INCOME-PRETAX> 9,950 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 9,950 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10,374 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.91 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.91 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 3.01 <LOANS-NON> 14,142 <LOANS-PAST> 0 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 5,665 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 13,124 <CHARGE-OFFS> 617 <RECOVERIES> 77 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 16,894 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 16,894 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0