<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>