<ARTICLE>                                            9
               

       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-1-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                         39,416,097
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         525,669
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    1,762,770,015
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         26,921,836
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           27,692,500
<LOANS>                                        2,120,054,384
<ALLOWANCE>                                    67,854,066
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 4,017,352,075
<DEPOSITS>                                     1,775,044,894
<SHORT-TERM>                                   1,712,892,698
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            41,450,585
<LONG-TERM>                                    217,595,830
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       29,599,552
<OTHER-SE>                                     240,768,516
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 4,017,352,075
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                231,513,730
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              89,041,513
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               743,161
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               321,298,404
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             70,418,359
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             155,129,960
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          166,168,436
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  76,000,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             26,827,417
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                91,797,699
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                56,610,587
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     56,610,587
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   51,812,387
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.75
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.74
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                 5.27
<LOANS-NON>                                    56,958,000
<LOANS-PAST>                                   15,110,000
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               57,711,927
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  72,223,389
<RECOVERIES>                                   6,365,528
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              67,854,066
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           67,854,066
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                            0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        0