<ARTICLE>                                            9

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                  JAN-1-2000
<PERIOD-END>                    SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                         52,610,836
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         2,443,944
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    1,817,549,477
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         309,237,224
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           297,015,447
<LOANS>                                        3,318,007,924
<ALLOWANCE>                                    76,445,352
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 5,648,673,891
<DEPOSITS>                                     3,222,448,179
<SHORT-TERM>                                   1,890,045,308
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            67,481,683
<LONG-TERM>                                    148,024,328
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    90,000,000
<COMMON>                                       26,424,152
<OTHER-SE>                                     204,250,241
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 5,648,673,891
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                240,068,892
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              97,034,570
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               908,616
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               338,012,078
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             108,485,381
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             194,316,954
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          143,695,124
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  37,743,500
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             6,812,772
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                84,755,379
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                60,725,299
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     60,725,299
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   49,527,651
<EPS-BASIC>                                  1.65
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.64
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                 4.06
<LOANS-NON>                                    67,236,000
<LOANS-PAST>                                   15,090,000
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               71,784,237
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  39,285,924
<RECOVERIES>                                   7,763,420
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              76,445,352
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           76,445,352
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                            0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        0