<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                          25,471
<SECURITIES>                                   129,620
<RECEIVABLES>                                  385,023
<ALLOWANCES>                                     5,722
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               534,392
<PP&E>                                          15,258
<DEPRECIATION>                                   7,163
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 551,189
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          515,602
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         5,655
<OTHER-SE>                                      29,932
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   537,189
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                39,117
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   14,647
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                15,489
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,520
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 413
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  6,048
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,948
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,100
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.73
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.71