<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                                                  
<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>                                      16,667,209              10,094,909
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                               15,142,094              10,424,818
<ALLOWANCES>                                   610,000                 385,000
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0                       0
<PP&E>                                       4,504,932               2,543,367
<DEPRECIATION>                               1,241,154                 692,557
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             125,067,124             157,698,429
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0                       0
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                  1,575,000               1,575,000
<COMMON>                                    14,044,891              14,032,491
<OTHER-SE>                                   6,271,205               4,276,551
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               125,067,124             157,698,429
<SALES>                                     19,108,132              93,613,257
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            19,108,132             104,539,302
<CGS>                                                0              82,922,839
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0              82,922,839
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            10,791,629              13,053,972
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             2,821,451               2,242,292
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           2,031,877               2,457,619
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              3,463,175               3,862,580
<INCOME-TAX>                                 1,343,000               1,545,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          2,120,175               2,317,580
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 2,120,175               2,317,580
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .49                     .54
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .48                     .52