<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1999 <PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1999 <CASH> 12,865,549 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 171,535,111 <ALLOWANCES> 1,415,053 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 268,495,410 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 230,473,118 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 5,567 <OTHER-SE> 26,449,049 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 268,495,410 <SALES> 22,605,135 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 22,605,135 <CGS> 9,864,658 <TOTAL-COSTS> 9,864,658 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 8,771,831 <LOSS-PROVISION> 3,265,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,029,259 <INCOME-TAX> 740,679 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,288,579 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,288,579 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.23 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.23