<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FIRST
QUARTER 1998 10Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                         363,200
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           2,116
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               135,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  1,306,853
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                           4,122
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                             4,122
<LOANS>                                      7,036,646
<ALLOWANCE>                                     82,511
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               9,664,849
<DEPOSITS>                                   6,925,024
<SHORT-TERM>                                   591,023
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            160,734
<LONG-TERM>                                  1,039,998
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           929
<OTHER-SE>                                     947,141
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               9,664,849
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                160,848
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               26,947
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 3,681
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               191,476
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              56,372
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              82,324
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          109,152
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    5,984
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 502
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                101,369
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 67,789
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      39,894
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    39,894
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .44
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .43
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.94
<LOANS-NON>                                     37,089
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 16,200
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                82,583
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    7,620
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,564
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               82,511
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            55,278
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         27,233