<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-2001 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-2000 <CASH> 27,536,160 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 258,771,773 <ALLOWANCES> 2,324,940 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 326,772,692 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 275,510,953 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 5,567 <OTHER-SE> 31,119,840 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 326,772,692 <SALES> 22,591,054 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 22,591,054 <CGS> 10,170,739 <TOTAL-COSTS> 10,170,739 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 8,003,256 <LOSS-PROVISION> 4,308,450 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,914,846 <INCOME-TAX> 698,919 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 999,560 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 999,560 <EPS-BASIC> 0.18 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.18