<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     9
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
<CURRENCY>                    U.S. Dollars
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                          1
<CASH>                                              67,439 
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                   0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                         0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                         0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                              0
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                   0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                     0
<LOANS>                                          7,479,373
<ALLOWANCE>                                        152,525
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   7,734,844
<DEPOSITS>                                               0
<SHORT-TERM>                                             0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                686,719
<LONG-TERM>                                      6,010,987 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              111,550
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               284
<OTHER-SE>                                         925,304
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                   7,734,844 
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                    217,077
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                        0
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                         0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                         0
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  97,172
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                              103,456      
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                        8,000 
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                       0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                     45,878 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     52,811
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                               0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        31,658
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         1.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                        .059
<LOANS-NON>                                        158,255
<LOANS-PAST>                                             0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                         0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                          0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                   148,693
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                        5,300
<RECOVERIES>                                         1,211
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                  152,545
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                     0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                  0
        

</TABLE>