<ARTICLE> 9 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 143,175 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 4,974 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 717,324 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 400,809 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 401,714 <LOANS> 1,065,782 <ALLOWANCE> 18,691 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,424,231 <DEPOSITS> 1,018,988 <SHORT-TERM> 672,310 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 17,267 <LONG-TERM> 494,680 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 168,369 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 2,424,231 <INTEREST-LOAN> 60,537 <INTEREST-INVEST> 57,692 <INTEREST-OTHER> 450 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 118,679 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 27,083 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 70,739 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 47,940 <LOAN-LOSSES> 3,000 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 1,618 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 38,295 <INCOME-PRETAX> 20,706 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 20,706 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 12,302 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.06 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.05 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 3.14 <LOANS-NON> 9,632 <LOANS-PAST> 0 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 12,003 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 17,758 <CHARGE-OFFS> 200 <RECOVERIES> 148 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 985 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 18,691 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0