<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
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<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0                       0
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<CHARGE-OFFS>                                        0                       0
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