<TABLE> <S> <C>

                                                                    

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE COMBINED
BALANCE SHEETS OF CYGNET FINANCIAL CORPORATION AT MARCH 31, 1998 AND DECEMBER
31, 1997 AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS
ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 AND THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                             365                   1,225
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   61,080                  49,526
<ALLOWANCES>                                     9,954                   8,191
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0<F1>                   0<F1>
<PP&E>                                           2,241                     646
<DEPRECIATION>                                   (159)                   (127)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  57,400                  50,330
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0<F1>                   0<F1>
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                      40,000                  40,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    57,400                  50,330
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 3,382                  15,959
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0                       0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 2,239                   3,937
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   287                     691
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 854                   2,067
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      2                   9,264
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                   3,728
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0                       0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                         2                   (306)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.00                  (0.05)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.00                  (0.05)
<FN>
<F1>UNCLASSIFIED BALANCE SHEET
</FN>
        

</TABLE>