<ARTICLE>                     5
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              mar-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 apr-1-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   sep-30-1997
<CASH>                                          2,283
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  98,819
<ALLOWANCES>                                    7,527
<INVENTORY>                                         0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               93,575
<PP&E>                                          6,714
<DEPRECIATION>                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                113,724
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           3,230
<BONDS>                                        68,332
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                       42,162
<OTHER-SE>                                          0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  113,724
<SALES>                                             0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               39,117
<CGS>                                               0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               25,467
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                6,394
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              2,565
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 4,691
<INCOME-TAX>                                    1,572
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             3,119
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                    3,119
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     .16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     .16