<ARTICLE> 5 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 7,466 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 169,598 <ALLOWANCES> 4,789 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 1,834 <DEPRECIATION> 635 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 153,262 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 54,968 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 44 <OTHER-SE> 34,024 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 153,262 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 13,447 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 5,580 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,224 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,649 <INCOME-PRETAX> 994 <INCOME-TAX> 390 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 604 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 604 <EPS-PRIMARY> .16 <EPS-DILUTED> .14