<ARTICLE> 9 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 4,322,701 2,701,333 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 16,288,058 7,438,958 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 651,080,189 238,171,841 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 0 <LOANS> 0 0 <ALLOWANCE> 0 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 740,372,583 288,990,471 <DEPOSITS> 426,150 155,412 <SHORT-TERM> 0 0 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 664,171,344 250,176,230 <LONG-TERM> 9,670,000 9,670,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 1,000 1,000 <OTHER-SE> 66,411,654 29,143,241 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 740,372,583 288,990,471 <INTEREST-LOAN> 0 0 <INTEREST-INVEST> 0 0 <INTEREST-OTHER> 0 0 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 0 0 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 0 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 12,524,096 5,624,446 <LOAN-LOSSES> 3,587,806 3,640,727 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 0 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 38,622,337 18,300,104 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 37,268,413 17,659,600 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 0 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 0 0 <LOANS-NON> 0 0 <LOANS-PAST> 0 0 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 0 0 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 0 0 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 0 0 <CHARGE-OFFS> 0 0 <RECOVERIES> 0 0 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 0 0 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 0 0 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0 0