<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> 0

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                             1,000
<CASH>                                          42,643
<SECURITIES>                                     9,300
<RECEIVABLES>                                  682,091
<ALLOWANCES>                                    11,422
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                         109,182
<DEPRECIATION>                                  21,213
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 901,387
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0
<BONDS>                                        577,822
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           244
<OTHER-SE>                                     263,543
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   263,787
<SALES>                                         11,633
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               145,089
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   59,594
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                41,339
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 4,617
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              33,696
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 39,539
<INCOME-TAX>                                    12,847
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             26,692
<DISCONTINUED>                                   7,962
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    299
<CHANGES>                                          569
<NET-INCOME>                                    18,460
<EPS-BASIC>                                      .83
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .81