Exhibit 99.1

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


         In connection with the Quarterly Report of Asta Funding, Inc. (the
"Company") on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Report"), I, Gary Stern, Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

         (1)      The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section
                  13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

         (2)      The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
                  all material respects, the consolidated financial condition of
                  the Company as of the dates presented and the consolidated
                  result of operations of the Company for the periods presented.

Dated: May 12, 2003



                                                        /s/ Gary Stern
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        Gary Stern
                                                        Chief Executive Officer

This certification has been furnished solely pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and has not been filed as part of the Report or as a
separate disclosure document.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been
provided to Asta Funding, Inc. and will be retained by Asta Funding, Inc. and
furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.