<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-31-1996             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             SEP-30-1996             JUN-30-1996             MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                          15,205                  17,396                   9,448                  15,770
<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>                          41,675                  44,921                  52,394                  52,426
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0                       0                       0                       0
<LOANS>                                      1,637,507               1,433,373               1,421,568               1,611,376
<ALLOWANCE>                                   (88,397)                (65,648)                (65,304)                (66,252)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,760,785               1,562,196               1,549,792               1,753,608
<DEPOSITS>                                     463,435                 465,084                 414,570                 392,546
<SHORT-TERM>                                   982,547                 785,237                 848,028               1,068,685
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             90,411                  87,369                  68,544                  80,992
<LONG-TERM>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                           272                     272                     272                     272
<OTHER-SE>                                     224,120                 224,234                 218,378                 211,113
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,760,785               1,562,196               1,549,792               1,753,608
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                223,488                 163,924                 110,571                  55,054
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                2,523                   1,943                   1,326                     653
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   255                     251                     249                     245
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               226,266                 166,118                 112,146                  55,952
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              26,651                  19,185                  12,201                   6,062
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              79,129                  59,824                  41,586                  22,643
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          147,137                 106,294                  70,560                  33,309
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  137,115                  84,605                  52,568                  26,472
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0                       0                       0                       0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                283,427                 214,418                 143,872                  71,212
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 37,493                  37,461                  28,435                  17,799
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      37,493                  37,461                  28,435                  17,779
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    23,246                  23,226                  17,628                  11,035
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.86                    0.85                    0.65                    0.41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.85                    0.85                    0.64                    0.40
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<LOANS-PAST>                                    68,035                  59,421                  53,359                  50,002
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                63,704                  63,704                  63,704                  63,704
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  138,181                  99,415                  62,981                  30,646
<RECOVERIES>                                    21,759                  16,754                  12,013                   6,722
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               88,397                  65,648                  65,304                  66,252
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            88,397                  65,648                  65,304                  66,252
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                       0                       0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0                       0                       0                       0
        


</TABLE>