<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 9
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                               0                 155,144
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0                  11,395
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0                       0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0                  41,050
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                          0                 953,441
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0                  63,687
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0                  63,706
<LOANS>                                              0               2,874,115
<ALLOWANCE>                                          0                  50,538
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       0               4,167,806
<DEPOSITS>                                           0               2,891,801
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0                 374,960
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                  0                  32,950
<LONG-TERM>                                          0                 686,478
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                     194
<OTHER-SE>                                           0                 181,617<F1>
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                       0               4,167,806
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 53,234                 205,275
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               18,086                  46,257
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   994                   3,475
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                72,314                 255,007
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              34,839                 126,717
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              52,432                 174,009
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           19,882                  80,998
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      251                  13,004
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  92                   2,670
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 18,499<F2>              73,804<F2>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    187                   8,788
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                         187                   8,788
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,780                  12,653
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.08                    0.67
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.08                    0.66
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    1.99                    2.27
<LOANS-NON>                                     13,074                  13,074
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0                       0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                43,993                  43,993
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                104,685                 104,685
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                58,408                  57,508
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   10,502                  41,190
<RECOVERIES>                                     2,381                   8,446
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               50,538                  50,538
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            50,538                  50,538
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         32,426                  32,426
<FN>
<F1>Includes $272 minority interest: preferred stock of consolidated subsidiary.
<F2>Includes G & A, provision for estimated real estate losses and direct costs of
real estate, net, plus minority interest in earnings of subsidiary (dividends
on subsidiary preferred stock).
</FN>


</TABLE>