<ARTICLE> 9 <CIK> 0000046267 <NAME> HAWTHORNE FINANCIAL CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 143,775 <INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS> 978,170 <FED-FUNDS-SOLD> 0 <TRADING-ASSETS> 0 <INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE> 22,679 <INVESTMENTS-CARRYING> 0 <INVESTMENTS-MARKET> 0 <LOANS> 1,190,382 <ALLOWANCE> 16,160 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,395,064 <DEPOSITS> 994,932 <SHORT-TERM> 264,000 <LIABILITIES-OTHER> 17,095 <LONG-TERM> 40,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 52 <OTHER-SE> 78,985 <TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY> 1,395,064 <INTEREST-LOAN> 73,077 <INTEREST-INVEST> 2,938 <INTEREST-OTHER> 0 <INTEREST-TOTAL> 76,015 <INTEREST-DEPOSIT> 34,533 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 44,037 <INTEREST-INCOME-NET> 31,978 <LOAN-LOSSES> 5,185 <SECURITIES-GAINS> 0 <EXPENSE-OTHER> 20,311 <INCOME-PRETAX> 11,989 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 8,463 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,463 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.21 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.33 <YIELD-ACTUAL> 9.28 <LOANS-NON> 28,084 <LOANS-PAST> 14,446 <LOANS-TROUBLED> 36,450 <LOANS-PROBLEM> 39,715 <ALLOWANCE-OPEN> 13,274 <CHARGE-OFFS> 2,299 <RECOVERIES> 0 <ALLOWANCE-CLOSE> 16,160 <ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC> 16,160 <ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN> 0 <ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED> 0