<ARTICLE> BD <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION - DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10K DECEMBER 31, 1997. </LEGEND> <NAME> First Montauk Financial Corp. <CIK> 0000083125 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> Year <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 790 <RECEIVABLES> 2,954 <SECURITIES-RESALE> 0 <SECURITIES-BORROWED> 0 <INSTRUMENTS-OWNED> 3,658 <PP&E> 1,358 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 11,972 <SHORT-TERM> 0 <PAYABLES> 3,332 <REPOS-SOLD> 0 <SECURITIES-LOANED> 0 <INSTRUMENTS-SOLD> 810 <LONG-TERM> 445 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 4,334 <OTHER-SE> 2,559 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 11,972 <TRADING-REVENUE> 7,258 <INTEREST-DIVIDENDS> 1,384 <COMMISSIONS> 27,018 <INVESTMENT-BANKING-REVENUES> 1,433 <FEE-REVENUE> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 85 <COMPENSATION> 26,785 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,445 <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> 2,445 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,477 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.17 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.14