<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>                                         355,207
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             309
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               150,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                23,988
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    586,751
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         228,452
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           229,444
<LOANS>                                      3,530,122
<ALLOWANCE>                                    137,850
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,974,659
<DEPOSITS>                                   3,814,177
<SHORT-TERM>                                   606,660
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             57,122
<LONG-TERM>                                      9,800
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        46,701
<OTHER-SE>                                     440,199
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               4,974,659
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                223,679
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               37,780
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 2,739
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               264,198
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              53,607
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              77,051
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          187,147
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                        0
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               (763)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                134,186
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 92,048
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    58,455
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.22
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.22
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    8.60
<LOANS-NON>                                     31,037
<LOANS-PAST>                                    19,723
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                 4,165
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               137,105<F1>
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   15,073
<RECOVERIES>                                    15,818
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              137,850
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           137,850
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0
<FN>
<F1>ADJUSTED FOR ACQUISITION OF VENTURA/FRONTIER/RIVERSIDE NAT'L
BANK
</FN>