<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9                                                    EXHIBIT 27
<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
       
<S>                             <C> 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                         447,245
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               237,220
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                   516
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  1,413,171
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         338,877
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           341,105
<LOANS>                                      4,643,100
<ALLOWANCE>                                     86,879
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               7,382,089
<DEPOSITS>                                   6,329,571
<SHORT-TERM>                                   314,329
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             78,866
<LONG-TERM>                                     23,394
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       112,839
<OTHER-SE>                                     523,090
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               7,382,089
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 95,962
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               27,053
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                    (1)
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               123,014
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              49,777
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              52,617
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           70,397
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    2,051
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 154
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 56,934
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 40,964
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      27,308
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    27,308
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .73
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .72
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.67
<LOANS-NON>                                     36,182
<LOANS-PAST>                                     9,650
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                   835
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                79,970
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    4,178
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,726
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               86,879
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            66,996
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         19,883
        


</TABLE>