<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                             9
<MULTIPLIER>                                      1,000
<CURRENCY>                                   US DOLLARS
       
<S>                                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                           3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                   MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                          1
<CASH>                                                              82,347
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                               8,999
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                                    48,485
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                                         0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                      1,340,177
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                             639,276
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                               630,624
<LOANS>                                                          3,502,689
<ALLOWANCE>                                                         22,926
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                   5,808,506
<DEPOSITS>                                                       4,493,105
<SHORT-TERM>                                                             0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                                 77,081
<LONG-TERM>                                                        832,624
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                                              0
<COMMON>                                                            37,601
<OTHER-SE>                                                         368,095
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                                   5,808,506
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                                     73,716
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                                   34,443
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                                         0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                                   108,159
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                                  49,771
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                  10,753
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                               47,635
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                                        2,250
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                                     102
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                                     27,680
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                     29,702
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                                          19,110
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                                        19,110
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                          .51
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                          .51
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                                        3.20
<LOANS-NON>                                                         12,350
<LOANS-PAST>                                                             0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                                         0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                                      5,700
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                                    23,228
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                                        2,930
<RECOVERIES>                                                           378
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                                   22,926
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                                     0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                             22,926
        

</TABLE>