<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 12,880 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 326,807 <ALLOWANCES> 6,404 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 3,033 <DEPRECIATION> 1,534 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 283,176 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 231,657 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 46 <OTHER-SE> 36,932 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 283,176 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 27,101 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 11,082 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,372 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,328 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,515 <INCOME-TAX> 1,107 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,408 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,408 <EPS-PRIMARY> .38 <EPS-DILUTED> .34