<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                         9
<LEGEND>
This Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the 
Company's financial statements filed as part of its Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December  31,  1998  and is  qualified  in its  entirety  by  
reference  to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Dec-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   Dec-31-1998
<CASH>                                         24,180
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    150,820
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           0
<LOANS>                                        2,574,396
<ALLOWANCE>                                    (80,493)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2,744,710
<DEPOSITS>                                     187,518
<SHORT-TERM>                                   560,823
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            145,430
<LONG-TERM>                                    1,427,167
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       1
<OTHER-SE>                                     419,329
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 2,744,710
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                404,954
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              11,449
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               416,403
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             10,030
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             133,211
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          283,192
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  79,760
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             326
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                142,992
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                87,587
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   52,887
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                 7.99
<LOANS-NON>                                    43,400
<LOANS-PAST>                                   0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                               0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               74,323
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  (89,752)
<RECOVERIES>                                   15,888
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              80,493
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                           0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                            0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        80,493
        
<FN>
Aristar,  Inc. is  technically a Commercial and  Industrial  Company  subject to
Article 5 of  Regulation  S-X.  However,  as its  primary  business  is consumer
finance, the Company, although not a bank holding company, is engaged in similar
lending  activities.  Therefore,  in accordance with Staff  Accounting  Bulletin
Topic 11-K, "Application of Article 9 and Guide 3, "the Company has prepared its
Financial Data Schedule for the year ended December 31, 1998 using the Article 9
format.
</FN>



</TABLE>