Exhibit 99
For  Immediate Release                         Contact:
                                                        Richard F. Latour
                                                        President and CEO
                                                        Tel: 781-994-4800

   MICROFINANCIAL's CONTINUED LISTING PLAN ACCEPTED BY NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE


Woburn, MA- May 22, 2003- MicroFinancial  Incorporated  (NYSE-MFI),  a leader in
Microticket  leasing  and  finance,  announced  today  that the New  York  Stock
Exchange has accepted  the  Company's  proposed  compliance  plan for  continued
listing on the Exchange.

As a result of the  Exchange's  decision to accept  Microfinancial's  plan,  the
Company's  listing will continue and be subject to ongoing  monitoring by a NYSE
Committee to ensure compliance with the criteria set forth in the plan.  Failure
to achieve the goals outlined in the plan, to meet the minimum continued listing
requirements within the required  timeframes,  could result in the Company being
subject to NYSE trading suspension and delisting.

As previously  announced on March 18, 2003, the Company had been notified by the
NYSE that it had failed to maintain  the minimum  acceptable  continued  listing
criteria relating to stock price and total market capitalization.

Richard Latour,  President and Chief Executive  Officer stated,  "We are pleased
with the  Exchange's  decision to accept our plan.  The Company will continue to
pursue various strategic and financial  alternatives  which we believe will help
us to meet the plan objectives."

About MicroFinancial

MicroFinancial  Inc. (NYSE:  MFI),  headquartered in Woburn,  MA, is a financial
intermediary  specializing  in leasing and financing for products in the $500 to
$10,000 range. The company has been in operation since 1986.


Statements  in this release that are not  historical  facts are  forward-looking
statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation  Reform  Act  of  1995.  In  addition,   words  such  as  "believes,"
"anticipates,"  "expects,"  "views,  " and similar  expressions  are intended to
identify  forward-looking  statements.  The  Company  cautions  that a number of
important  factors could cause actual  results to differ  materially  from those
expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company.
Readers should not place undue  reliance on  forward-looking  statements,  which
reflect the management's view only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes
no obligation  to publicly  revise these  forward-looking  statements to reflect
subsequent  events or  circumstances.  The Company cannot assure that it will be
able to anticipate or respond timely to changes which could adversely affect its
operating  results in one or more fiscal quarters.  Results of operations in any
past period  should not be  considered  indicative  of results to be expected in
future periods.  Fluctuations in operating results may result in fluctuations in
the price of the Company's common stock. For a more complete  description of the
prominent risks and uncertainties  inherent in the Company's  business,  see the
risk factors described in documents the Company files from time to time with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.