<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     YEAR                   9-MOS                   6-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997             SEP-30-1997             JUN-30-1997             MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                          14,730                  15,169                  25,112                  19,552
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0                       0                       0                       0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                          0                       0                       0                       0
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          36,617                  41,576                  49,507                  55,759
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0                       0                       0                       0
<LOANS>                                      1,295,787               1,245,080               1,338,600               1,498,421
<ALLOWANCE>                                   (79,726)                (75,236)                (79,120)                (84,394)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,512,403               1,417,194               1,526,846               1,628,517
<DEPOSITS>                                     510,294                 535,832                 494,064                 478,541
<SHORT-TERM>                                   639,066                 557,262                 712,194                 831,706
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            100,008                  73,035                  56,851                  63,663
<LONG-TERM>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                           273                     273                     273                     273
<OTHER-SE>                                     262,762                 250,792                 240,828                 231,698
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,512,403               1,417,194               1,526,846               1,628,517
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                240,196                 181,237                 124,568                  63,495
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                2,290                   1,762                   1,213                     576
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                    34                      24                      13                       5
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               245,194                 184,515                 126,477                  64,076
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              31,998                  23,491                  15,015                   7,411
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              74,748                  57,521                  39,826                  20,382
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          170,446                 126,994                  86,651                  43,694
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  118,363                  86,273                  57,793                  31,711
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0                       0                       0                       0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                284,585                 217,904                 151,577                  78,391
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 62,300                  42,694                  26,670                  12,039
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      38,500                  26,214                  16,375                   7,391
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    38,500                  26,214                  16,375                   7,391
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.41                    0.96                    0.60                    0.27
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.41                    0.96                    0.60                    0.27
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<LOANS-PAST>                                    74,085                  57,038                  54,145                  56,778
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                88,397                  88,397                  88,397                  88,397
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  153,645                 116,586                  78,767                  41,361
<RECOVERIES>                                    22,611                  17,152                  11,697                   5,647
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               79,726                  75,236                  79,120                  84,394
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            79,726                  75,236                  79,120                  84,394
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                       0                       0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0                       0                       0                       0
        


</TABLE>