<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 14,171 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 343,574 <ALLOWANCES> 7,350 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 3,228 <DEPRECIATION> 1,684 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 298,602 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 243,541 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 46 <OTHER-SE> 37,520 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 298,602 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 37,867 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 15,021 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 4,201 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 15,463 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,519 <INCOME-TAX> 1,543 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,976 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,976 <EPS-PRIMARY> .53 <EPS-DILUTED> .47