1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 21


                     MONTHLY CERTIFICATEHOLDERS' STATEMENT

                          Discover Card Trust 1993 A       

                     -------------------------------------

                                  CREDIT CARD

                          PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES        

           -------------------------------------
          
        Under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of Feb. 1, 1993 (the
"Agreement") by and among Greenwood Trust Company (the "Servicer"), Discover
Receivables Financing Group and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, the
Servicer is required to prepare certain information each month regarding current
distributions to Investor Certificateholders and the performance of the Trust
during the previous month.  The information which is required to be prepared
with respect to the distribution of February 18, 1997, and with respect to the
performance of the Trust during the Due Period ended in January 31, 1997, is
set forth below. Certain of the information is presented on the basis of an
original principal amount of $1,000 per Class A Certificate. Certain other
information is presented based on the aggregate amounts for the Trust as a
whole.

   Information Regarding the Current Monthly Distribution (stated on
the basis of $1,000 original principal amount).

- ---------------------------------------

1. The total amount of the distribution to Class A Certificate- 
  holders on February 18, 1997 , per $1,000 interest .....
  ........................................... $    5.208333333

2. The total amount of the distribution to Class B Certificate- 
  holders on February 18, 1997 , per $1,000 interest .....
  ........................................... $    5.666666667

3. The amount of the distribution set forth in paragraph 1 above 
  in respect of interest on the Class A Certificates , per 
  $1,000 interest ........................... $    5.208333333

4. The amount of the distribution set forth in paragraph 2 above 
  in respect of interest on the Class B Certificates , per 
  $1,000 interest ........................... $    5.666666667
   2
5. The amount of the distribution set forth in paragraph 1 above 
   in respect of principal on the Class A Certificates, per 
   $1,000 interest ........................... $ 0.000000000

6. The amount of the distribution set forth in paragraph 2 above 
   in respect of principal on the Class B Certificates, per 
   $1,000 interest ........................... $ 0.000000000


Information Regarding the Performance of the Trust. 
- ---------------------------------------------------

1. Collections of Receivables.  
- ------------------------------

 (a) The aggregate amount of Finance Charge Collections processed during the
     related Due Period .......... $ 9,232,370.85

 (b) The aggregate amount of Principal Collections processed during the
     related Due Period .......... $ 121,359,755.58

 (c) The aggregate amount of Finance Charge Collections processed during the
     related Due Period which was allocated in respect of the Investor
     Certificates ... $ 7,067,379.88

 (d) The aggregate amount of Principal Collections processed during the
     related Due Period which was allocated in respect of the Investor
     Certificates ... $ 92,900,892.90

 (e) The aggregate amount of Finance Charge Collections processed during the
     related Due Period which was allocated in respect of the Class A
     Certificates .... $ 6,424,806.87

 (f) The aggregate amount of Principal Collections processed during the
     related Due Period which was allocated in respect of the Class A
     Certificates .... $ 84,454,253.91

 (g) The aggregate amount of Finance Charge Collections processed during the
     related Due Period which was allocated in respect of the Class B
     Certificates .... $ 642,573.01

 (h) The aggregate amount of Principal Collections processed during the
     related Due Period which was allocated in respect of the Class B
     Certificates .... $ 8,446,638.99

 (i) The aggregate amount of Finance Charge Collections processed during the
     related Due Period which was allocated in respect of the Seller
     Certificate ...... $ 2,164,990.97
   3
  (j) The aggregate amount of Principal Collections processed during the 
      related Due Period which was allocated in respect of the Seller 
      Certificate ......................................... $      28,458,862.68

2. Principal Receivables in the Trust.
- --------------------------------------

  (a) The aggregate amount of Principal Receivables in the Trust as of the
      end of the Due Period ended in January 31, 1997 (which reflects the
      Principal Receivables represented by the Seller Certificate and the
      Investor Certificates) ............................. $     615,611,338.10

  (b) The amount of Principal Receivables in the Trust represented by
      the Class A Certificates  (the "Class A Interest") as of the Due
      Period Ended in January 31, 1997 ................... $     450,000,000.00

  (c) The amount of Principal Receivables in the Trust represented by the 
      Class B Certificates  (the "Class B Interest") as of the Due Period Ended
      in January 31, 1997................................. $      45,000,000.00

  (d) The Class A Interest and the Class B Interest set forth in paragraph 2 
      (b) and 2 (c) above as a percentage of the aggregate amount of Principal
      Receivables set forth in paragraph 2 (a) above ...........  80.41%

  (e) The Class A Interest set forth in paragraph 2 (b) above as a percentage
      of the aggregate amount of  Principal Receivables set forth in paragraph
      2 (a) above ............................................... 73.10%

  (f) The Class B Interest set forth in paragraph 2 (c) above as a percentage
      of the aggregate amount of  Principal Receivables set forth in paragraph
      2 (a) above ...............................................  7.31%

  (g) The Deficit Controlled Amortization Amount (after giving effect to 
      payments made on such Distribution Date)...................  0.00

3. Investor Charged-Off Amount.   
- -------------------------------

  (a) The aggregate amount of Receivables charged-off as uncollectible during 
      the Due Period ended in January 31, 1997 allocable to the Investor 
      Certificates (the "Investor Charged-Off Amount") ....$       2,067,554.92

  (b) The aggregate amount of Receivables charged-off as Uncollectible during 
      the Due Period ended in January 31, 1997 allocable to the Class A 
      Certificates (the "Class A Charged-Off Amount") .... $       1,879,570.83
   4
  (c) The sum of (i) the aggregate amount of Receivables charged-off as
      uncollectible during the Due Period ended in January 31, 1997 allocable
      to the Class B Certificates and (ii) the sum of (a) the positive 
      difference, if any, between the Class B Subordinated Payment and Class B
      Finance Charge Collections (less Class B Excess Servicing) and (b) the 
      amount by which the Investor Interest for the Class B Certificates is 
      reduced pursuant to subsection 4.03(c)(i)(C) (the "Class B Charged-Off 
      Amount")............................................. $       1,737,539.43

  (d) The Cumulative Class A Charged-Off Amount on 
      February 18, 1997 ................................... $               0.00

  (e) The Cumulative Class B Charged-Off Amount on 
      February 18, 1997  .................................. $               0.00


4. Investor losses; Reimbursement of Charge-Offs.   
- -------------------------------------------------

  (a) The amount of Class A Investor Loss, as defined in Section 4.06 (b) 
      of the Agreement, during the Due Period ended in 
      January 31, 1997  .................................. $              0.00

  (b) The amount of Class B Investor Loss, as defined in Section 4.06 (b) 
      of the Agreement, during the Due Period ended in 
      January 31, 1997  .................................. $              0.00

  (c) The amount of Class A Investor Loss set forth in Paragraph 4 (a) 
      above, per $1,000 interest (which will have the effect of reducing, 
      pro rata, the amount of each Class A Certficateholder's 
      investment) ........................................ $       0.000000000

  (d) The amount of Class B Investor Loss set forth in Paragraph 4 (b) 
      above, per $1,000 interest (which will have the effect of reducing, 
      pro rata, the amount of each Class B Certficateholder's 
      investment) ........................................ $      0.000000000

  (e) The total amount reimbursed to the Trust in the current month pursuant
      to Section 4.06 (c) of the Agreement, if any, in respect of Class A 
      Investor Losses in prior months .................... $             0.00

  (f) The total amount reimbursed to the Trust in the current month pursuant
      to Section 4.06 (c) of the Agreement, if any, in respect of Class B 
      Investor Losses in prior months .................... $             0.00
   5
  (g) The amount set forth in paragraph 4 (e) above, per $1,000 interest (which
      will have the effect of increasing, pro rata, the amount of each Class A
      Certificateholder's investment) ..................... $        0.000000000

  (h) The amount set forth in paragraph 4 (f) above, per $1,000 interest (which
      will have the effect of increasing, pro rata, the amount of each Class B
      Certificateholder's investment) ..................... $        0.000000000

  (i) The aggregate amount of Class A Investor Losses in the Trust as of the
      end of the day on February 18, 1997.................. $        0.00

  (j) The aggregate amount of Class B Investor Losses in the Trust as of the
      end of the day on February 18, 1997.................. $        0.00

  (k) The amount set forth in paragraph 4 (i) above, per $1,000 interest (which
      will have had the effect of reducing, pro rata, the amount of Class A
      Certificateholder's investment)...................... $        0.000000000

  (l) The amount set forth in paragraph 4 (j) above, per $1,000 interest (which
      will have had the effect of reducing, pro rata, the amount of Class B
      Certificateholder's investment) ..................... $        0.000000000


5. Investor Servicing Fee.                       
- --------------------------

  (a) The amount of the Class A Monthly Servicing Fee payable by the Trust to 
      the Servicer for the month of January 31, 1997 ..... $        750,047.10

  (b) The amount of the Class B Monthly Servicing Fee payable by the Trust to 
      the Servicer for the month of January 31, 1997 ..... $         75,015.49

6. Available Subordinated Amount.                
- ---------------------------------

  (a) The amount available to be applied pursuant to Sections 4.03 (c)(i)(B) 
      and (C) of the Agreement as of the end of the day on 
      February 18, 1997  ................................ $      45,000,000.00
   6
  (b) The amount set forth in paragraph 6(a) above as a percentage of the 
      Class A Interest.  ................................................ 10.00%


7. Available Class B Credit Enhancement Amount.  
- -----------------------------------------------

  (a) The amount available to be drawn under the Class B Credit Enhancement 
      pursuant to Sections 4.03 (c)(i)(G) and (H) of the Agreement as of the 
      end of the day on February 18, 1997................. $      24,750,000.00

  (b) The amount set forth in paragraph 7(a) above as a percentage of the
       Class B Interest. .............................................. 55.00%


8. The Pool Factor.                              
- -------------------

    The Pool Factor represents the ratio of the amount of the Class A Interest
    as of the end of the day on February 18, 1997 to the amount of the Class A
    Interest as of the Closing Date. The amount of a Class A Certificateholder's
    pro rata share of the Class A Interest can be determined by multiplying the
    original denomination of the Class A Certificateholder's Certificate by the
    Pool Factor .................................................    1.00000000

    The Pool Factor represents the ratio of the amount of the Class B Interest
    as of the end of the day on February 18, 1997 to the amount of the Class B
    Interest as of the Closing Date. The amount of a Class B Certificateholder's
    pro rata share of the Class B Interest can be determined by multiplying the
    original denomination of the Class B Certificateholder's Certificate by the
    Pool Factor ................................................    1.00000000
   7
9.  The aggregate outstanding balance of receivables that were delinquent by 30
    to 59 days as of the close of business on the last day of the Due Period
    related to such Distribution Date .........................  $14,237,411.42


10. The aggregate outstanding balance of receivables that were delinquent by 60
    days or more as of the close of business on the last day of the Due Period
    related to such Distribution Date ......................... $20,664,876.69





                      Greenwood Trust Company as Servicer

                                     By:
                                        ----------------------------------
                                     Title: Vice President, Director of
                                     Accounting and Treasurer
   8

                          MONTHLY SERVICER CERTIFICATE

                           DISCOVER CARD TRUST 1993 A
                           
                           --------------------------

                                  CREDIT CARD

                           PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES 

                           --------------------------


    The undersigned, a duly authorized representative of Greenwood Trust
Company ("Greenwood"), as Servicer pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement  dated as of Feb. 1, 1993  (the "Pooling and Servicing
Agreement" ) by and among Greenwood, Discover Receivables Financing Group and
Wilmington Trust Company , does hereby certify as follows:


   1. Greenwood is Servicer under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.

   2. The undersigned is a Servicing Officer.

   3. The aggregate amount of Collections processed during the related Due
      Period was equal to .. $  130,592,126.43

   4. The aggregate amount of Class A Principal Collections processed by
      the Servicer during the related Due Period is equal to .... $84,454,253.91

   5. The aggregate amount of the Class A Finance Charge Collections
      processed by the Servicer during the related Due Period is equal
      to ........................................................ $6,424,806.87

   6. The sum of all amounts payable to the Class A Certificateholders on the
      current Distribution Date is equal to ..................... $2,343,750.00

   7. The aggregate amount of Class B Principal Collections processed by
      the Servicer during the related Due Period is equal to .... $8,446,638.99

   8. The aggregate amount of the Class B Finance Charge Collections
      processed by the Servicer during the related Due Period is equal
      to ........................................................ $642,573.01
   9
   9. The amount of drawings under the Class B Credit Enhancement
      required to be made on  the succeeding Drawing Date pursuant to
      (a)  Section 4.03(c)(i)(G) is equal to...... $              0.00
      (b)  Section 4.03(c)(i)(H) is equal to...... $              0.00
      (c)  Section 4.05 is equal to............... $              0.00

  10. The sum of all amounts payable to the Class B Certificateholders on the
      current Distribution Date is equal to ....................... $255,000.00

  11. Attached hereto is a true copy of the statement required to be delivered
      by the Servicer on the date of this Certificate to the Trustee
      pursuant to section 5.02.


     IN WHITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed and and
delivered this certificate this day of February 18, 1997



                           GREENWOOD TRUST COMPANY, as Servicer

                           By: ______________________________
                           Title: Vice President, Director of
                           Accounting and Treasurer