<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 25,122,077 <SECURITIES> 32,941,755 <RECEIVABLES> 138,670,066 <ALLOWANCES> 5,968,818 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 12,316,598 <DEPRECIATION> 7,427,927 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 201,165,572 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 109,184,902 <BONDS> 135,984,346 <COMMON> 170,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 54,564,149 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 201,165,572 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 61,498,404 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 39,036,788 <LOSS-PROVISION> 6,915,794 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,801,482 <INCOME-PRETAX> 6,744,340 <INCOME-TAX> 4,928,030 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,816,310 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,816,310 <EPS-PRIMARY> 10.68 <EPS-DILUTED> 0