<ARTICLE> 5
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                      39,551,044              18,668,703
<SECURITIES>                                11,755,628               1,442,814
<RECEIVABLES>                              437,287,437             250,688,138
<ALLOWANCES>                                 6,401,916               2,654,114
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0                       0
<PP&E>                                       2,175,188                 619,222
<DEPRECIATION>                                 421,980                 202,938
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             504,671,115             272,354,946
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      257,117,548             184,524,758
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                       134,142                  96,703
<OTHER-SE>                                 247,419,425              87,733,485
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               504,671,115             272,354,946
<SALES>                                     57,706,860              27,745,077
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            64,089,366              29,327,929
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0                       0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            13,434,451               7,219,372
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             3,953,498               1,315,122
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          13,629,466               7,921,330
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             33,071,951              12,872,105
<INCOME-TAX>                                13,264,049               4,877,257
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<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                19,807,902               7,994,848
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.57                     .99
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.52                     .96