<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1998 <PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1998 <CASH> 3,893,774 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 132,334,660 <ALLOWANCES> 1,315,733 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 152,695,716 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 125,206,224 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 5,567 <OTHER-SE> 25,296,976 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 152,695,716 <SALES> 14,878,206 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 14,878,206 <CGS> 5,811,799 <TOTAL-COSTS> 5,811,799 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 4,960,172 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,409,276 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,151,877 <INCOME-TAX> 785,435 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,366,442 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,366,442 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.25 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.25