<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0001001430
<NAME>                        THE THAXTON GROUP, INC.
       
<S>                                            <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  YEAR                    YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                               780,864            1,162,793
<SECURITIES>                                          28,630               66,818
<RECEIVABLES>                                     80,684,786           67,558,269
<ALLOWANCES>                                       4,710,829            4,809,400
<INVENTORY>                                                0                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                           0                    0
<PP&E>                                             5,391,376            3,869,935
<DEPRECIATION>                                     2,547,623            1,866,148
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    78,996,012           60,965,672
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                      0                    0
<BONDS>                                           62,923,199           52,086,424
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0                    0
<PREFERRED>                                           10,813                2,551
<COMMON>                                              38,852               37,956
<OTHER-SE>                                        12,879,207            5,928,810
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                      78,996,012           60,965,672
<SALES>                                                    0                    0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                  23,280,731           22,583,875
<CGS>                                                      0                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                              0                    0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  15,777,486           13,210,791
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   4,046,460            6,579,932
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 5,037,289            5,023,179
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   (1,580,504)          (2,230,027)
<INCOME-TAX>                                        (496,487)            (723,694)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               (1,084,017)          (1,506,333)
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0                    0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0                    0
<CHANGES>                                                  0                    0
<NET-INCOME>                                      (1,084,017)          (1,506,333)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          (0.35)               (0.39)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          (0.35)               (0.39)
        


</TABLE>