<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MARCH
31, 2000 FORM 10-Q OF PMC COMMERCIAL TRUST AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<CASH>                                             164
<SECURITIES>                                     1,917
<RECEIVABLES>                                  108,329<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (150)
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                          73,872
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (3,763)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 188,319<F2>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            5,873<F3>
<BONDS>                                         91,314
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        94,414
<OTHER-SE>                                     (3,282)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   188,319
<SALES>                                          5,211
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 5,211
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 1,258
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,746
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,207
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              2,207
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,207
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.34
<FN>
<F1>INCLUDES CURRENT AND LONG-TERM PORTION OF ALL LOANS RECEIVABLE - BEFORE
RESERVE AND RELATED INTEREST RECEIVABLES.
<F2>INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ITEMS NOT INCLUDED ABOVE:

(i)      OTHER ASSETS, NET         $   354
(ii)     DEFERRED BORROWING COSTS      428
(iii)    RESTRICTED INVESTMENTS      7,090
(iv)     DUE FROM AFFILIATES            78
                                   -------
                                   $ 7,950
                                   =======
<F3>INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

(i)      DIVIDENDS PAYABLE         $ 3,007
(ii)     OTHER LIABILITIES           1,461
(iii)    INTEREST PAYABLE              462
(iv)     BORROWER ADVANCES             819
(v)      UNEARNED COMMITMENT FEES      124
                                   -------
                                   $ 5,873
                                   =======
</FN>