<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                            9
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                     SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                            23,016,381   
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             2,142,268   
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                  10,000,000   
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                           0   
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                      627,170,981   
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                           211,724,088   
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                             218,377,705   
<LOANS>                                          401,869,813   
<ALLOWANCE>                                        7,441,831   
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,306,324,766   
<DEPOSITS>                                       893,560,405   
<SHORT-TERM>                                     260,525,530   
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                               36,184,935   
<LONG-TERM>                                                0   
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0   
<PREFERRED>                                                0   
<COMMON>                                               9,989   
<OTHER-SE>                                       116,043,907   
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 1,306,324,766   
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                   23,180,733   
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                 39,766,829   
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     600,705   
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                  63,548,267   
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                21,307,105   
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                30,149,149   
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                             33,399,118   
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                        750,000   
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                    28,339   
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                   17,435,382   
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   19,224,450   
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                                 0   
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0   
<CHANGES>                                                  0   
<NET-INCOME>                                      12,660,977   
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                           1.30<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           1.28<F1>
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                          4.16
<LOANS-NON>                                          155,000   
<LOANS-PAST>                                         158,000   
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                           0   
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                            0   
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                   6,167,000   
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                              0   
<RECOVERIES>                                         525,000   
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                  7,441,831   
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 100,000   
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                        0   
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                            7,341,831   
                                                       
<FN>
<F1>  Per SFAS No. 128 "Earnings Per Share", effective December 31, 1997, the 
      EPS for September 30, 1997 is as follows:

                          Basic                     $1.19
                          Diluted                   $1.17
</FN>


</TABLE>