<ARTICLE>                                                                   5
<MULTIPLIER>                                                         1000
<CURRENCY>                                                           US         
                             
                                                                          
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    3-MOS                        
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                                       OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                         DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                                1
<CASH>                                                                    85,163
<SECURITIES>                                                           1,070,605
<RECEIVABLES>                                                          2,558,997
<ALLOWANCES>                                                              33,454
<INVENTORY>                                                                    0
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<PP&E>                                                                    49,785
<DEPRECIATION>                                                                 0
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<COMMON>                                                                 206,296
<OTHER-SE>                                                                63,067
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<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                               0
<CGS>                                                                          0
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<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                           4,000
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<INCOME-TAX>                                                              14,462
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                            0
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<CHANGES>                                                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                                              25,608
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                               2.97
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               2.79