<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of operations and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 12,249,645 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 147,442,460 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 14,232,584 <PP&E> 21,864,426 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 214,402,326 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 6,667,004 <BONDS> 24,755,000 <COMMON> 169,118 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 179,719,099 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 214,402,326 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 5,544,979 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 585,819 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,521,124 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,438,036 <INCOME-TAX> 1,003,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,435,036 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,435,036 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.14 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.14