<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