<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1999 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998 <CASH> 12,381,743 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 160,481,546 <ALLOWANCES> 1,312,298 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 262,837,004 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 228,560,186 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 5,567 <OTHER-SE> 25,858,764 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 262,837,004 <SALES> 12,916,847 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 12,916,847 <CGS> 5,415,639 <TOTAL-COSTS> 5,415,639 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 4,851,696 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,150,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,108,442 <INCOME-TAX> 404,581 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 703,861 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 703,861 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.13 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.13