<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 9
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997             JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                               0                 161,560
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0                   9,581
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0                 127,191
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0                  10,767
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                          0                 354,296
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0                  33,297
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0                  28,734
<LOANS>                                              0               2,847,084
<ALLOWANCE>                                          0                  59,964
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       0               3,534,002
<DEPOSITS>                                           0               2,701,677
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0                 399,846
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                  0                  31,661
<LONG-TERM>                                          0                 170,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                     193
<OTHER-SE>                                           0                 230,625<F1>
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                       0               3,534,002<F2>
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 49,384                  99,224
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                8,303                  16,279
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   768                   1,659
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                58,455                 117,162
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              29,572                  58,712
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              38,129                  76,479
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           20,326                  40,683
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    4,251                   8,502
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 995                   2,216
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 19,199                  37,389
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,083<F3>               6,551<F4>
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       3,083                   6,551
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,250                   7,465
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .18                     .41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .18                     .41
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    2.45                    2.46
<LOANS-NON>                                     33,176                  33,176
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0                       0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                44,828                  44,828
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                101,245                 101,245
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                52,882                  57,508
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   12,441                  22,504
<RECOVERIES>                                    15,272<F5>              16,458<F5>
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               59,964                  59,964
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            59,964                  59,964
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         33,490                  33,490
<FN>
<F1>INCLUDES $51,750 MINORITY INTEREST: PREFERRED STOCK OF CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARY.
<F2>ON JULY 29, 1997, THE COMPANY COMPLETED THE ACQUISITION OF HANCOCK SAVINGS
BANK, F.S.B., A LOS ANGELES-BASED INSTITUTION.  THE ACQUISITION WAS ACCOUNTED
FOR AS A PURCHASE AND IS REFLECTED IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CONDITION
AT JUNE 30, 1997.
<F3>EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND $3,886 MINORITY INTEREST IN SUBSIDIARY WHICH
IS INCLUDED IN [EXPENSE-OTHER].
<F4>EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND $3,886 MINORITY INTEREST IN SUBSIDIARY WHICH
IS INCLUDED IN [EXPENSE-OTHER].
<F5>INCLUDES $12,770 OF LOAN ALLOWANCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE HANCOCK ACQUISITION.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>