<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BALANCE SHEET STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 3RD QUARTER 10-Q </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 9,105,403 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 43,005,122 <ALLOWANCES> 1,075,000 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 2,234,180 <DEPRECIATION> 623,675 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 156,062,708 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 136,314,600 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 1,575,000 <COMMON> 14,022,473 <OTHER-SE> 4,150,595 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 156,062,708 <SALES> 68,197,986 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 77,008,946 <CGS> 60,632,950 <TOTAL-COSTS> 64,404,950 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 5,797,564 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,238,744 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,961,389 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,608,660 <INCOME-TAX> 1,443,464 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,165,196 <EPS-PRIMARY> .48 <EPS-DILUTED> .48