<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>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                    YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                          16,214                  22,610
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0                       0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0                       0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0                       0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     67,011                  63,506
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0                       0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0                       0
<LOANS>                                      1,585,711                 864,970
<ALLOWANCE>                                      5,129                   4,384
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,752,812                 972,355
<DEPOSITS>                                           0                       0
<SHORT-TERM>                                   755,559                 357,716
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             26,316                  10,936
<LONG-TERM>                                    741,907                 474,513
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           225                      94
<OTHER-SE>                                     225,805                 129,096
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,752,812                 972,355
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                109,533                  63,673
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                    0                       0
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               109,533                  63,673
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                   0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              76,577                  44,144
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           32,956                  19,529
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    6,843                   4,350
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0                       0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 52,468                   4,796
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (16,029)                  11,879
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                    (16,029)                  11,879
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                  (16,029)                  11,879
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.99)                    1.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.99)                    1.32
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                          0                       0
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0                       0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0                       0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 9,877                   4,450
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    4,748                     146
<RECOVERIES>                                         0                      80
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                5,129                   4,384
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             5,129                   4,384
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0                       0