<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM UNAUDITED
CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1                  
<CURRENCY> U.S.               
       
<S>                                                    <C>                  <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                        3-MOS                9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JUL-01-1998          JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1998          SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                          1                    1
<CASH>                                              37,240               37,240     
<SECURITIES>                                        44,604               44,604
<RECEIVABLES>                                       39,567               39,567         
<ALLOWANCES>                                         1,740                1,740
<INVENTORY>                                              0                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   124,791              124,791
<PP&E>                                              16,823               16,823
<DEPRECIATION>                                       4,433                4,433
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     143,447              143,447
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               28,848               28,848 
<BONDS>                                                  0                    0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0                    0
<PREFERRED>                                             48                   48
<COMMON>                                                97                   97
<OTHER-SE>                                         112,997              112,997 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       143,447              143,447
<SALES>                                                  0                    0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    42,577              123,510
<CGS>                                                    0                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       18,071               52,840
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    11,100               52,026
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     2,176                2,762
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     100                  264
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     11,130               15,618
<INCOME-TAX>                                         2,560                6,814
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  8,570                8,804
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0                    0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0                    0
<CHANGES>                                                0                    0
<NET-INCOME>                                         8,570                8,804
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         0.22                 0.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.21                 0.22

        


</TABLE>