<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 9
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                                  
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      DEC-31-1996                     
<PERIOD-START>                         JAN-01-1996                     
<PERIOD-END>                           SEP-30-1996                     
<CASH>                                                     351,828     
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                   4,716,665     
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                           119,143     
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                                 0     
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                      0     
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                     737,068     
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                       734,890     
<LOANS>                                                  4,773,026     
<ALLOWANCE>                                                 94,927     
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           6,397,931     
<DEPOSITS>                                               5,416,945     
<SHORT-TERM>                                                     0     
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                         66,903     
<LONG-TERM>                                                109,912<F1> 
<COMMON>                                                     1,734     
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                            0     
<PREFERRED>                                                      0     
<OTHER-SE>                                                 463,289     
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                           6,397,931     
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                            508,333     
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                           38,808     
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                             9,866     
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                           557,007     
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                         184,095     
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                         206,687     
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                      350,320     
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                              126,652     
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                               0     
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                            276,559     
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                             78,717     
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                                  47,952     
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                  0     
<CHANGES>                                                        0     
<NET-INCOME>                                                47,952     
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                               138.28     
<EPS-DILUTED>                                               138.28     
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                                   0<F2> 
<LOANS-NON>                                                  8,235     
<LOANS-PAST>                                                64,156     
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                                 0<F2> 
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                                  0<F2> 
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                            67,740     
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                              115,805     
<RECOVERIES>                                                14,602     
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                           94,927     
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                             0<F2> 
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                              0<F2> 
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                          0<F2> 
<FN>

<F1> INCLUDES 96,715 IN CAPITAL NOTES
<F2> THIS INFORMATION IS NOT REQUIRED FOR INTERIM REPORTING PURPOSES.

</FN>
        


</TABLE>