<ARTICLE>                                            9

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                         43,460,680
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         2,213,243
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               17,421,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    1,378,518,236
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         302,375,538
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           289,958,609
<LOANS>                                        2,525,377,403
<ALLOWANCE>                                    72,135,828
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 4,373,782,734
<DEPOSITS>                                     2,330,314,002
<SHORT-TERM>                                   1,492,399,239
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            63,979,073
<LONG-TERM>                                    179,077,080
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    90,000,000
<COMMON>                                       29,612,552
<OTHER-SE>                                     188,400,787
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 4,373,782,734
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                189,612,961
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              78,463,053
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               797,529
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               268,873,543
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             63,692,990
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             131,146,323
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          137,727,220
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  37,766,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             1,348,583
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                73,781,783
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                50,394,774
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     50,394,774
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   45,742,874
<EPS-BASIC>                                  1.48
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.47
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                 4.98
<LOANS-NON>                                    54,088,000
<LOANS-PAST>                                   14,233,000
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               67,854,066
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  40,405,441
<RECOVERIES>                                   6,134,339
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              72,135,828
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           72,135,828
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                            0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        0