<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