<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1998 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997 <CASH> 4,128,799 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 127,253,095 <ALLOWANCES> 1,254,848 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 146,237,341 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 119,355,204 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 5,567 <OTHER-SE> 25,045,270 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 146,237,341 <SALES> 9,804,962 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 9,804,962 <CGS> 3,759,268 <TOTAL-COSTS> 3,759,268 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,256,967 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,339,276 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,755,490 <INCOME-TAX> 640,754 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,114,736 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,114,736 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.20 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.20