<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 UNAUDITED CONDENSED 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> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 18,557 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 327,481 <ALLOWANCES> 46,739 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 23,065 <DEPRECIATION> 10,457 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 335,195 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 207,548 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 134 <OTHER-SE> 91,518 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 335,195 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 33,539 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 6,879 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 10,578 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,124 <INCOME-PRETAX> 9,152 <INCOME-TAX> 3,851 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,301 <EPS-BASIC> 0.42 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.42