<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 14,637,053 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 1,400,200 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 3,578,342 <DEPRECIATION> 1,112,557 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 119,587,517 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 97,428,385 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 1,575,000 <COMMON> 14,032,491 <OTHER-SE> 6,551,641 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 119,587,517 <SALES> 7,802,535 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 14,512,262 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 7,207,385 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,871,451 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,568,038 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,865,388 <INCOME-TAX> 1,500,005 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,365,323 <EPS-PRIMARY> .53 <EPS-DILUTED> .53