<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   12-MOS                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1997             MAR-31-1997             JUN-30-1997
             SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          29,046                  25,866                  33,577                  23,148
                  31,346
<SECURITIES>                                    34,190                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   13,854                  19,638                  15,306                  15,369
                  21,514
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,611                     455                   1,796                   2,832
                   3,191
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<PP&E>                                          23,513                  20,788                  24,334                  25,966
                  24,827
<DEPRECIATION>                                   5,285                  10,641                   6,393                   7,920
                   9,397
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,075,941               2,633,848               1,530,422               1,902,248
               1,647,501
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<BONDS>                                        375,092                 890,942                 545,167                 705,266
                 667,485
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<COMMON>                                         1,690                   1,827                   1,799                   1,803
                   1,825
<OTHER-SE>                                     299,825                 406,673                 339,123                 354,347
                 377,864
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   301,515               2,633,848               1,530,422               1,902,248
               1,647,501
<SALES>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               200,067                 418,273                  74,133                 177,216
                 288,751
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               109,643                 206,349                  42,448                  94,294
                 146,132
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 3,195                  17,764                   1,920                   7,218
                  11,556
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              36,763                 102,063                  16,159                  41,412
                  71,219
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 50,466                  92,097                  13,606                  34,292
                  59,844
<INCOME-TAX>                                    19,134                  35,873                   5,045                  13,245
                  23,461
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             31,332                  56,224                   8,561                  21,047
                  36,383
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    31,332                  56,224                   8,561                  21,047
                  36,383
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.16                    1.59                    0.25                    0.61
                    1.04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.06                    1.53                    0.25                    0.59
                    1.00
        

</TABLE>