<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE SEPTEMBER 30, 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> JUL-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 12,985 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 247,409 <ALLOWANCES> 26,908 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 16,057 <DEPRECIATION> 8,331 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 260,818 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 143,326 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 133 <OTHER-SE> 82,436 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 260,818 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 24,823 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 6,232 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 5,888 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,602 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8,063 <INCOME-TAX> 3,322 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 4,741 <EPS-BASIC> 0.36 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.36