<ARTICLE> 5 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 8,945 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 178,737 <ALLOWANCES> 4,562 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 2,379 <DEPRECIATION> 902 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 162,737 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 76,737 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 48 <OTHER-SE> 34,284 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 162,737 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 19,087 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 8,059 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,564 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,146 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,579 <INCOME-TAX> 704 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 875 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 875 <EPS-PRIMARY> .23 <EPS-DILUTED> .20