<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from MoneyGram
Payment Systems, Inc.'s Form 10-Q for the period September 30, 1997 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                              26,993
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        9,380
<ALLOWANCES>                                             0
<INVENTORY>                                              0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    58,133
<PP&E>                                              10,201
<DEPRECIATION>                                       8,221
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     135,393
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               36,671
<BONDS>                                                  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               166
<OTHER-SE>                                          98,556
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       135,393
<SALES>                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   107,188
<CGS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       91,824
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                       0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     15,364
<INCOME-TAX>                                         6,072
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                      0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       9,292
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                         9,292
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          .56
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          .56