<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     9
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
<CURRENCY>                    U.S. Dollars
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                          1
<CASH>                                              33,193    
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                   0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                         0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                         0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                              0
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                   0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                     0
<LOANS>                                          8,399,456 
<ALLOWANCE>                                       (177,088)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   8,757,923 
<DEPOSITS>                                               0
<SHORT-TERM>                                             0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                733,274
<LONG-TERM>                                      6,764,581
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                                25 
<OTHER-SE>                                       1,260,043
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                   8,757,923
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                    944,724
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                        0
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                         0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                         0
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 416,093
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                              455,642
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                       69,200
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                       0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                    190,525
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    226,178
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                               0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                       143,090 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                         6.2
<LOANS-NON>                                        187,356
<LOANS-PAST>                                             0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                         0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                          0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                   148,693 
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      (45,487)
<RECOVERIES>                                         2,287 
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                  177,088 
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                     0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                  0
        

</TABLE>