<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE REGISTRANTS THIRD QUARTER 1998 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 1,650,200 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 22,278,258 <ALLOWANCES> 3,367,967 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 5,973,125 <DEPRECIATION> 1,721,302 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 49,195,580 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 19,129,251 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 1,384,891 <COMMON> 19,819,477 <OTHER-SE> 5,256,965 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 49,195,580 <SALES> 16,881,611 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 27,555,357 <CGS> 2,347,826 <TOTAL-COSTS> 24,946,493 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 498,768 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,422,244 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,208,595 <INCOME-TAX> 484,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 724,595 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 724,595 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.18 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.18