<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998             MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                        $152,011                $125,403
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           6,121                   2,619
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                17,500                       0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0                       0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  3,055,567               2,190,594
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         709,600               1,799,442
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           711,773               1,763,308
<LOANS>                                      5,782,215               5,231,410
<ALLOWANCE>                                     75,103                  74,024
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               9,924,508               9,535,291
<DEPOSITS>                                   6,371,108               6,127,390
<SHORT-TERM>                                   747,594                 415,395
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            360,233                 576,542
<LONG-TERM>                                  1,540,096               1,789,545
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                       357,641                 252,410
<OTHER-SE>                                     447,835                 374,009
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               9,924,508               9,535,291
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                123,495                 109,288
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               66,191                  56,117
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   821                     220
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               190,507                 165,625
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              47,482                  47,114
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              86,300                  71,349
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          104,207                  94,276
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   12,500                   1,800
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             (2,517)                      82
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                106,832                  42,456
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (3,874)                  60,507
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     (3,874)                  60,507
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     7,376                  35,979
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.05                    0.26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.05                    0.26
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.41                    4.51
<LOANS-NON>                                     17,753                  49,952
<LOANS-PAST>                                     7,535                   7,844
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                 9,408                  18,373
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                74,393                  73,280
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   12,843                   1,454
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,108                     398
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               75,103                  74,024
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            75,103                  74,024
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0                       0
        

</TABLE>