<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 11,418 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 231,584 <ALLOWANCES> 4,174 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 2,418 <DEPRECIATION> 1,039 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 206,307 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 125,729 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 48 <OTHER-SE> 34,706 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 206,307 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 16,531 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 9,072 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 821 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7,470 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,359 <INCOME-TAX> 595 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 764 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 764 <EPS-PRIMARY> .19 <EPS-DILUTED> .19