<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 9
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                               0                 190,177
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0                   9,110
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0                  51,600
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0                  42,289
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                          0                 664,383
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0                  61,497
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0                  61,514
<LOANS>                                              0               2,890,967
<ALLOWANCE>                                          0                  58,408
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       0               3,920,257
<DEPOSITS>                                           0               2,802,183
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0                 449,846
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                  0                  29,267
<LONG-TERM>                                          0                 461,478
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                     194
<OTHER-SE>                                           0                 177,289<F1>
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                       0               3,920,257
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 52,817                 152,041
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               11,892                  28,171
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   822                   2,481
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                65,531                 182,693
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              33,166                  91,878
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              45,098                 121,577
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           20,433                  61,116
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    4,251                  12,753
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 362                   2,578
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 17,916                  55,305
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,050<F2>               8,601<F3>
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       2,050                   8,601
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,408                  10,873
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.18                    0.58
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    2.29                    2.40
<LOANS-NON>                                     21,804                  21,804
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0                       0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                46,447                  46,447
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                102,594                 102,594
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                59,964                  57,508
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    8,184                  30,688
<RECOVERIES>                                     2,377                   6,065
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               58,408                  58,408
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            58,408                  58,408
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         34,664                  34,664
<FN>
<F1>INCLUDES $272 MINORITY INTEREST: PREFERRED STOCK OF CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARY.
<F2>EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND $342 MINORITY INTEREST IN SUBSIDIARY WHICH IS
INCLUDED IN OTHER EXPENSE.
<F3>EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND $4,228 MINORITY INTEREST IN SUBSIDIARY WHICH
IS INCLUDED IN OTHER EXPENSE.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>