<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                            9
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
       
<S>                             <C>                         <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                        YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997        DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997        JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1997        DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                              11,204             28,236
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                   0                  0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     6,095              6,038
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                         0                  0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                        208,697            203,266
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               6,885              6,997
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 6,885              6,975
<LOANS>                                          5,317,097          4,668,579
<ALLOWANCE>                                         32,092             30,094
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   5,835,825          5,198,157
<DEPOSITS>                                       4,869,978          4,173,102
<SHORT-TERM>                                       403,408            510,180
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                 51,766             38,139
<LONG-TERM>                                         80,327             85,165
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0                  0
<PREFERRED>                                              0                  0
<COMMON>                                               268                255
<OTHER-SE>                                         430,078            391,316
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                   5,838,825          5,198,157
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                    404,081            329,746
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                   16,337             16,614
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                         0                  0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                   420,418            346,360
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                 227,521            184,402
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  38,739             27,363
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                              154,158            134,595
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                        8,640              9,137
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                       0              4,473
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                    101,272            114,203
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     79,434             36,454
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                          45,234             20,704
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0                  0
<CHANGES>                                                0                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                        45,234             20,704
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         1.69               0.77
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         1.69               0.77
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                        7.72               7.61
<LOANS-NON>                                         41,699             45,021
<LOANS-PAST>                                             0                  0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                         0                  0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      1,803              4,138
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                    30,094             27,943
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                        7,773              7,660
<RECOVERIES>                                         1,131                674
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                   32,092             30,094
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                32,092             30,094
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                      0                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              2,800              2,800
        


</TABLE>