<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BALANCE SHEET STATEMENT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH ANNUAL 10-K. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 10,094,909 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 46,928,974 <ALLOWANCES> 1,215,000 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 2,593,367 <DEPRECIATION> 692,557 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 157,698,429 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 137,814,387 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 1,575,000 <COMMON> 14,032,491 <OTHER-SE> 4,276,551 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 157,698,429 <SALES> 93,630,694 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 104,539,302 <CGS> 82,922,840 <TOTAL-COSTS> 89,055,737 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 8,600,576 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,242,292 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,457,619 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,862,580 <INCOME-TAX> 1,545,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,317,580 <EPS-PRIMARY> .52 <EPS-DILUTED> .52