<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 9
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1996             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                               0                  50,899
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0                   6,534
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0                  15,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0                       0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                          0                 326,133
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0                  90,313
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0                  90,301
<LOANS>                                              0               2,805,917
<ALLOWANCE>                                          0                  62,832
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       0               3,323,209
<DEPOSITS>                                           0               2,516,769
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0                 514,028
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                  0                  62,653
<LONG-TERM>                                          0                  20,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                  51,750
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                     182
<OTHER-SE>                                           0                 157,827
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                       0                 209,759
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 52,142                 162,418
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                6,074                  14,033
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   804                   2,179
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                59,020                 178,630
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              29,808                  90,630
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               7,967                  23,151
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           21,245                  64,849
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    3,900                  11,710
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 610                     762
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 37,557                  74,992
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (17,557)                (13,711)
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                    (17,557)                (13,711)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (16,371)                (12,618)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.98)                   (.95)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.98)                   (.95)
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    2.64                    2.67
<LOANS-NON>                                          0                  36,480
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0                       0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0                  49,575
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0                 248,782
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                73,722                  89,435
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   15,199                  40,209
<RECOVERIES>                                       409                   1,901
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               62,832                  62,832
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            62,832                  62,832
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         29,281                  29,281
        

</TABLE>