<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FIRST QUARTER CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<PAGE>
       
<S>                             <C> 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997 
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997 
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997 
<CASH>                                         322,794 
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0 
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               172,781 
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                   166 
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  1,056,901 
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         327,448 
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           325,676 
<LOANS>                                      3,498,562 
<ALLOWANCE>                                     59,532 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,657,714 
<DEPOSITS>                                   4,902,205 
<SHORT-TERM>                                   178,096 
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             70,396 
<LONG-TERM>                                      6,097 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0 
<PREFERRED>                                          0 
<COMMON>                                        90,603 
<OTHER-SE>                                     410,317 
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               5,657,714 
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 76,977 
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               22,830 
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0 
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                99,807 
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              39,074 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              41,312 
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           58,495 
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    2,201 
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  12 
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 52,573 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 29,382 
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      29,382 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0 
<CHANGES>                                            0 
<NET-INCOME>                                    18,958 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .63 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .62 
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.77 
<LOANS-NON>                                     25,329 
<LOANS-PAST>                                     6,023 
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                 2,272 
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0 
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                52,575 
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    2,923 
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,081 
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               59,532 
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            43,161 
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0 
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         16,371 
        


</TABLE>