<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS, AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME OF THE COMPANY ON THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-QSB AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 527099 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 25937098 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 27554116 <PP&E> 1292260 <DEPRECIATION> 156786 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 28821645 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 24904813 <BONDS> 235605 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 22000 <OTHER-SE> 3659227 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 28821645 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 7222617 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 7416825 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1159240 <INCOME-PRETAX> (1353448) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (1353448) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (1353448) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.54) <EPS-DILUTED> 0