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                                  EXHIBIT 12.1

   Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
                             (Dollars in millions)

The  Company's  consolidated  ratios of earnings to combined  fixed  charges and
preferred stock dividends for each of the periods indicated are set forth below:

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                                                                                           Quarter Ended 
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 June 30,   March 31,   December 31,   September 30,    June 30,
                                                                  1998       1998         1997            1997          1997  
                                                                ---------  ---------   ------------   -------------    ---------
<S>                                                             <C>        <C>         <C>           <C>               <C>       
Income before income taxes                                      $  63.8     $ 54.2        $  58.9        $ 57.9        $  58.8   

Combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends:
    Interest expense on deposits                                  116.0      116.0          119.5         119.2          117.3    

    Interest expense on long-term debt                              3.5        3.4            3.4           3.0            --     

    Interest expense on guaranteed preferred  beneficial
       interest in Company's junior subordinated debentures         4.5        4.6            4.8           4.5            1.4    

    Appropriate portion (1/3) of rent expense                       1.1        1.0            0.2           1.1            1.1    

    Preferred stock dividend requirements                           --         --             0.1           0.1            0.1    

                                                                ---------  --------      ---------      --------      ---------- 
              Total combined fixed charges and
                 preferred stock dividends                      $ 125.1     $125.0        $ 128.0        $127.9        $ 119.9    
                                                                ---------  --------      ---------      --------      ---------- 
                                                                ---------  --------      ---------      --------      ---------- 

              Total combined fixed charges and
                 preferred stock dividends (excluding interest
                 expense on deposits)                           $   9.1     $ 9.0          $  8.5        $  8.7         $  2.6   
                                                                ---------  --------      ---------      --------      ---------- 
                                                                ---------  --------      ---------      --------      ---------- 

Earnings before income taxes and combined fixed
   charges and preferred stock dividends                        $ 188.9    $179.2         $ 186.9        $185.8         $ 178.7  
                                                                ---------  --------      ---------      --------      ---------- 
                                                                ---------  --------      ---------      --------      ---------- 

Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and
   preferred stock dividends (including interest expense
   on deposits)                                                     1.51x     1.43x          1.46x         1.45x           1.49x 
                                                                ---------  --------      ---------      --------      ---------- 
                                                                ---------  --------      ---------      --------      ---------- 

Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and
   preferred stock dividends (excluding interest expense
   on deposits)                                                     8.01x     7.02x          7.90x         7.59x          23.09x 
                                                                ---------  --------      ---------      --------      ---------- 
                                                                ---------  --------      ---------      --------      ---------- 


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                                                                  Six Months Ended     
                                                                  ----------------     
                                                                June 30,  June 30,     
                                                                  1998     1997       
                                                                --------  --------
<S>                                                              <C>       <C>         
Income before income taxes                                      $118.0    $ 125.2      
                                                                                       
Combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends:                                  
    Interest expense on deposits                                 232.0      234.0      
                                                                                       
    Interest expense on long-term debt                             6.9        --       
                                                                                       
    Interest expense on guaranteed preferred  beneficial                               
       interest in Company's junior subordinated debentures        9.1        1.4      
                                                                                       
    Appropriate portion (1/3) of rent expense                      2.1        2.2      
                                                                                       
    Preferred stock dividend requirements                          --         0.2      
                                                                                       
                                                                --------- ----------   
              Total combined fixed charges and                                         
                 preferred stock dividends                      $250.1    $ 237.8      
                                                                --------- ----------   
                                                                --------- ----------   
                                                                                       
              Total combined fixed charges and                                         
                 preferred stock dividends (excluding interest                         
                 expense on deposits)                           $18.1     $   3.8      
                                                                --------- ----------   
                                                                --------- ----------   
                                                                                       
Earnings before income taxes and combined fixed                                        
   charges and preferred stock dividends                        $368.1    $ 363.0      
                                                                --------- ----------   
                                                                --------- ----------   
                                                                                       
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and                                        
   preferred stock dividends (including interest expense                               
   on deposits)                                                   1.47x     1.53x      
                                                                --------- ----------   
                                                                --------- ----------   
                                                                                       
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and                                        
   preferred stock dividends (excluding interest expense                               
   on deposits)                                                   7.52x    33.34x      
                                                                --------- ----------   
                                                                --------- ----------   


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