<ARTICLE> 9 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 6,442,955 4,322,701 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 0 0 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 22,379,515 16,288,058 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 862,693,255 651,080,189 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 0 <LOANS> 0 0 <ALLOWANCE> 0 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 961,739,481 737,805,202 <DEPOSITS> 594,158 426,150 <SHORT-TERM> 0 0 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 824,451,584 661,603,962 <LONG-TERM> 14,496,469 11,337,710 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 92,153,243 1,000 <OTHER-SE> 29,600,566 66,411,654 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 961,739,481 737,805,202 <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> 18,377,574 12,524,096 <LOAN-LOSSES> 4,473,835 3,587,806 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 0 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 46,093,392 38,622,337 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,292,181 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