<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>                                     42,679                33,240    
<SECURITIES>                              135,836               145,558    
<RECEIVABLES>                             216,819               177,380    
<ALLOWANCES>                                2,224                 1,893    
<INVENTORY>                                     0                     0    
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              516                   785    
<PP&E>                                      9,170                 8,595    
<DEPRECIATION>                                  0                     0    
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                            402,796               363,665    
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                     364,841               330,026    
<BONDS>                                         0                     0    
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           0                     0    
<PREFERRED>                                     0                     0    
<COMMON>                                    4,085                 3,892    
<OTHER-SE>                                 33,870                29,747    
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>              402,796               363,665    
<SALES>                                         0                     0    
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           29,075                26,138    
<CGS>                                           0                     0    
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   0                     0    
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                           11,761                10,726    
<LOSS-PROVISION>                              465                   400    
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          8,438                 7,698    
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             8,411                 7,314    
<INCOME-TAX>                                3,092                 2,822    
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         5,319                 4,492    
<DISCONTINUED>                                  0                     0    
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 0                     0    
<CHANGES>                                       0                     0    
<NET-INCOME>                                5,319                 4,492    
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                2.18                  1.84    
<EPS-DILUTED>                                2.11                  1.81