<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0001052636
<NAME>                        MERRILL LYNCH PREFERRED CAPITAL TRUST V
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                        DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                           DEC-26-1998
<PERIOD-END>                             MAR-26-1999
<CASH>                                             0
<SECURITIES>                             876,300,000
<RECEIVABLES>                             15,948,660
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<COMMON>                                  26,300,000
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<SALES>                                            0
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<CGS>                                              0
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