<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
THE HELLER FINANCIAL, INC. ANNUAL REPORT FORM 10Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDING JUNE 30,
2000 PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<CASH>                                               0
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             778
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                        628
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                         15,828
<ALLOWANCE>                                      (337)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  19,770
<DEPOSITS>                                           0
<SHORT-TERM>                                     5,067
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              1,761
<LONG-TERM>                                     10,482
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                        400
<COMMON>                                         1,631
<OTHER-SE>                                         418
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                  19,770
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                    765
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                    0
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                   765
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 462
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                              303
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                       71
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                    233
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    219
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                         219
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       145
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.35
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.07
<LOANS-NON>                                        240
<LOANS-PAST>                                       147
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                    13
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                   316
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                       54
<RECOVERIES>                                         5
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                  337
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                            337

<F1> The Company is a finance company whose normal operations do not include the
     trading of investment securities.
<F2> Net income is net of $73 million income tax provision.