<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0000882515
<NAME>                        Litchfield Financial Corporation
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                         JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                           MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                      22,356
<SECURITIES>                                15,126
<RECEIVABLES>                               66,264
<ALLOWANCES>                                 3,615
<INVENTORY>                                      0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 0
<PP&E>                                           0
<DEPRECIATION>                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             118,094
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            0
<BONDS>                                     47,401
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            0
<PREFERRED>                                      0
<COMMON>                                        52
<OTHER-SE>                                  38,170
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               118,094
<SALES>                                          0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             4,715
<CGS>                                            0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               425
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,529
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              1,295
<INCOME-TAX>                                   497
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            798
<DISCONTINUED>                                   0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  0
<CHANGES>                                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                   798
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .15
<FN>
(1)  Due to the nature of its  business,  the Company  prepares an  unclassified
     balance sheet.
</FN>