<ARTICLE> 9 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 390,508 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 88,757 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,221,505 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 4,395,707 <ALLOWANCE> 66,184 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 7,309,525 <DEPOSITS> 5,076,325 <SHORT-TERM> 1,560,106 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 82,391 <LONG-TERM> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 100,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 286 <OTHER-SE> 490,417 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 7,309,525 <INTEREST-LOAN> 109,532 <INTEREST-INVEST> 19,700 <INTEREST-OTHER> 0 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 129,232 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 42,491 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 19,371 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 67,370 <LOAN-LOSSES> 999 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 825 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 54,551 <INCOME-PRETAX> 30,413 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 20,031 <EPS-PRIMARY> .72 <EPS-DILUTED> .71 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 4.30 <LOANS-NON> 49,519 <LOANS-PAST> 8,953 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 1,154 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 68,085 <CHARGE-OFFS> 4,561 <RECOVERIES> 1,661 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 66,184 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 66,184 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0