<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000890523 <NAME> DEGEORGE FINANCIAL CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 3,264 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 29,890 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 7,526 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 20,397 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 94,405 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 43,772 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,081 <OTHER-SE> 1,317 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 94,405 <SALES> 16,730 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 16,730 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 11,290 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 7,950 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,587 <INCOME-PRETAX> (4,097) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (4,097) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (4,097) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.38) <EPS-DILUTED> 0