<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ANNUAL FORM
10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                      22,609,583               2,284,482
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0                       0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0                       0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0                       0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                 63,505,551              17,378,238
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0                       0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0                       0
<LOANS>                                    864,970,869             583,021,113
<ALLOWANCE>                                  4,384,381                 100,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             972,355,240             613,688,331
<DEPOSITS>                                           0                       0
<SHORT-TERM>                               357,715,550             567,727,361
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                         10,936,519                 725,146
<LONG-TERM>                                474,512,583                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                        94,000                  42,500
<OTHER-SE>                                 129,096,588              45,193,324
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>             972,355,240             613,688,331
<INTEREST-LOAN>                             63,673,555               2,851,216
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                    0                       0
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                            63,673,555               2,851,216
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                   0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          44,143,909               1,714,708
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                       19,529,646               1,136,508
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                4,349,969                 487,505
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0                       0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                              4,795,861                 734,715
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             11,879,438               2,058,375
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                  11,879,438               2,058,375
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                11,879,438              11,879,438
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.98                     .07
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                          0                       0
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0                       0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0                       0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                     0                       0
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                        0                       0
<RECOVERIES>                                         0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                    0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0                       0