<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> 93,595 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 537,824 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 8,603 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 8,964 <LOANS> 1,562,686 <ALLOWANCE> 35,020 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,260,695 <DEPOSITS> 1,810,876 <SHORT-TERM> 178,542 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 22,864 <LONG-TERM> 31,069 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 68,238 <OTHER-SE> 149,106 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 2,260,695 <INTEREST-LOAN> 105,692 <INTEREST-INVEST> 28,284 <INTEREST-OTHER> 430 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 134,406 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 49,540 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 57,694 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 76,712 <LOAN-LOSSES> 4,169 <SECURITIES-GAINS> (7) <EXPENSE-OTHER> 45,971 <INCOME-PRETAX> 41,905 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 28,925 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 28,925 <EPS-PRIMARY> 3.07 <EPS-DILUTED> 3.07 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 5.06 <LOANS-NON> 1,713 <LOANS-PAST> 2,932 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 2,142 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 6,787 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 32,347 <CHARGE-OFFS> 3,500 <RECOVERIES> 2,004 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 35,020 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 35,020 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0