<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE DECEMBER 31, 1999 AUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000827230 <NAME> MICROFINANCIAL INCORPORATED <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 11,062 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 267,906 <ALLOWANCES> 41,719 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 15,917 <DEPRECIATION> 7,713 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 265,856 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 154,109 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 133 <OTHER-SE> 79,219 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 265,856 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 98,461 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 24,416 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 37,836 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 10,375 <INCOME-PRETAX> 18,237 <INCOME-TAX> 7,509 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10,728 <EPS-BASIC> 0.84 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.83