<ARTICLE>                     5

<LEGEND>                                

THIS  SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS  OF CAPITAL  TRUST FOR THE THREE  MONTHS  ENDED MARCH 31, 1999 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                 1,000

       
                                              

<PERIOD-TYPE>                                3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                               JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                 MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                       24,837
<SECURITIES>                                 270,198
<RECEIVABLES>                                502,421
<ALLOWANCES>                                 4,582
<INVENTORY>                                  0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             0
<PP&E>                                       990
<DEPRECIATION>                               401
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               812,688
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        9,635
<BONDS>                                      496,551
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        145,867
<PREFERRED>                                  0
<COMMON>                                     183
<OTHER-SE>                                   156,806
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 812,688
<SALES>                                      0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             25,865
<CGS>                                        0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                17,346
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             1,079
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              7,440
<INCOME-TAX>                                 3,648
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          3,792
<DISCONTINUED>                               0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                              0
<CHANGES>                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                                 3,792
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                0.1
<EPS-DILUTED>                                0.12