<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE HELLER
FINANCIAL, INC. ANNUAL REPORT FORM 10Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2000
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 13(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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                               0
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             498
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                        669
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                         15,564
<ALLOWANCE>                                      (341)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  19,331
<DEPOSITS>                                           0
<SHORT-TERM>                                     4,424
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              1,891
<LONG-TERM>                                     10,481
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                        400
<COMMON>                                         1,634
<OTHER-SE>                                         490
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                  19,331
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                  1,194
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                    0
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                 1,194
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 728
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                              466
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      108
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                    349
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    328
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                         328
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       218
<EPS-BASIC>                                       2.04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.03
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.13
<LOANS-NON>                                        262
<LOANS-PAST>                                       163
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                    13
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                   316
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                       99
<RECOVERIES>                                        21
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                  341
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                            341

<F1>The company is a finance company whose normal operations do not include the
trading of investments securities.
<F2>Net income is net of $108 million income tax provision.