<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                            9
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
<CURRENCY>                             U.S. Dollars
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                       JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                         SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                                1
<CASH>                                                                    42,567
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                                         0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                                               0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                                    0
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                                         0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                                           0
<LOANS>                                                                8,075,600
<ALLOWANCE>                                                              167,754
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                         8,307,720
<DEPOSITS>                                                                     0
<SHORT-TERM>                                                                   0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                                      715,737
<LONG-TERM>                                                            6,502,512
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                    111,550
<PREFERRED>                                                                    0
<COMMON>                                                                     568
<OTHER-SE>                                                               977,353
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                                         8,307,720
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                                          682,920
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                                              0
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                                               0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                                               0
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                                             0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                       304,647
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                                                    326,487
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                                             48,300
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                                             0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                                          137,263
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                          163,331
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                                                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                                             100,330
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                               1.79
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                  0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                                               .06
<LOANS-NON>                                                              173,390
<LOANS-PAST>                                                                   0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                                               0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                                                0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                                         148,693
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                                             31,263
<RECOVERIES>                                                               2,098
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                                        167,754
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                                           0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                                            0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                                        0
        

</TABLE>