<ARTICLE> 9 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM A THREE MONTH PERIOD ENDING MARCH 31, 1998 </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 9,410,465 4,322,701 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 21,613,527 16,288,058 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 763,590,967 651,080,189 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 0 <LOANS> 0 0 <ALLOWANCE> 0 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 874,456,645 740,372,583 <DEPOSITS> 495,174 426,150 <SHORT-TERM> 0 0 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 742,099,175 664,171,344 <LONG-TERM> 25,593,302 9,670,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 93,037,433 1,000 <OTHER-SE> 13,252,395 66,411,654 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 874,456,645 740,372,583 <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> 4,913,683 12,524,096 <LOAN-LOSSES> 1,579,429 3,587,806 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 0 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 17,858,765 38,622,337 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> (10,055,990) 37,268,413 <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