<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>         
<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM A THREE
MONTH PERIOD ENDING MARCH 31, 1998
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                       9,410,465               4,322,701
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0                       0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0                       0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                            21,613,527              16,288,058
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                763,590,967             651,080,189
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0                       0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0                       0
<LOANS>                                              0                       0
<ALLOWANCE>                                          0                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             874,456,645             740,372,583
<DEPOSITS>                                     495,174                 426,150
<SHORT-TERM>                                         0                       0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                        742,099,175             664,171,344
<LONG-TERM>                                 25,593,302               9,670,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                    93,037,433                   1,000
<OTHER-SE>                                  13,252,395              66,411,654
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>             874,456,645             740,372,583
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                      0                       0
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                    0                       0
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                   0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0                       0
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                        4,913,683              12,524,096
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                1,579,429               3,587,806
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0                       0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                      0                       0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             17,858,765              38,622,337
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                           0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                               (10,055,990)             37,268,413
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       0                       0
<LOANS-NON>                                          0                       0
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0                       0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0                       0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                     0                       0
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                        0                       0
<RECOVERIES>                                         0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                    0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0                       0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0                       0
        

</TABLE>