<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MARCH
31, 1999 UNAUDITED 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-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          11,373
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  216,612
<ALLOWANCES>                                    25,394
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                          13,975
<DEPRECIATION>                                   7,516
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 224,631
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0
<BONDS>                                        116,788
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           133
<OTHER-SE>                                      79,537
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   224,631
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                22,455
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    6,004
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 5,399
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,620
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  6,745
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,776
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,969
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.33
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.33