<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF USCS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 FOR THE NINE MONTHS THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 8815 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 80311 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 4033 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 104314 <PP&E> 184484 <DEPRECIATION> 87778 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 213984 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 54177 <BONDS> 2079<F1> <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1172 <OTHER-SE> 129753<F2> <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 213984 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 216791 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 124579 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 64315<F3> <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 464 <INCOME-PRETAX> 27433 <INCOME-TAX> 10987 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 16446 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 16446 <EPS-PRIMARY> .68 <EPS-DILUTED> .68 <FN> <F1>Consists of Notes Payable and Bonds Payable <F2>Consists of Additional Paid-in Capital, Retained Earnings, Treasury Stock and Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments <F3>Consists of Research and Development and Selling, General and Administrative Expenses </FN>