<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000

       
                                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                         9-MOS                 12-MOS  
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                     DEC-31-1998           DEC-31-1997 
<PERIOD-END>                          SEP-30-1998           DEC-31-1997 
<CASH>                                     19,732                33,240  
<SECURITIES>                              142,524               145,558  
<RECEIVABLES>                             208,261               177,380  
<ALLOWANCES>                                2,097                 1,893  
<INVENTORY>                                     0                     0  
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              247                   785  
<PP&E>                                      8,974                 8,595  
<DEPRECIATION>                                  0                     0  
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                            377,641               363,665  
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                     340,480               330,026  
<BONDS>                                         0                     0  
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           0                     0  
<PREFERRED>                                     0                     0  
<COMMON>                                    3,892                 3,892  
<OTHER-SE>                                 33,269                29,747  
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>              377,641               363,665  
<SALES>                                         0                     0  
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           21,709                26,138  
<CGS>                                           0                     0  
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   0                     0  
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            8,699                10,726  
<LOSS-PROVISION>                              273                   400  
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          6,237                 7,698  
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             6,500                 7,314  
<INCOME-TAX>                                2,398                 2,822  
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         4,102                 4,492  
<DISCONTINUED>                                  0                     0  
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 0                     0  
<CHANGES>                                       0                     0  
<NET-INCOME>                                4,102                 4,492  
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                1.76                  1.93  
<EPS-DILUTED>                                1.71                  1.90