<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from MoneyGram
Payment Systems, Inc.'s Form 10-Q for the period June 30, 1997 and is qualified
entirely by reference to such Form 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                   DEC-31-1997 
<PERIOD-END>                        JUN-30-1997 
<CASH>                                   22,931 
<SECURITIES>                                  0 
<RECEIVABLES>                             9,372 
<ALLOWANCES>                                  0 
<INVENTORY>                                   0 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                         57,763 
<PP&E>                                   10,330 
<DEPRECIATION>                            7,440 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          136,558 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                    41,638 
<BONDS>                                       0 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                         0 
<PREFERRED>                                   0 
<COMMON>                                    166 
<OTHER-SE>                               94,754 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>            136,558 
<SALES>                                       0 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         70,021 
<CGS>                                         0 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                            60,942 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              0 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                              0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                            0 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                           9,079 
<INCOME-TAX>                              3,589 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       5,490 
<DISCONTINUED>                                0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                               0 
<CHANGES>                                     0 
<NET-INCOME>                              5,490 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                               .33 
<EPS-DILUTED>                               .33