Exhibit 99.1

                   AMERICAN BUSINESS FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.


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


This certification is intended to accompany American Business Financial
Services, Inc.'s (the "Company") Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three
months ending December 31, 2002 with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
the date hereof (the "Report"), and is given solely for the purpose of
satisfying the requirements of 18 U.S.C. ss. 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. To the best of my knowledge, I,
Anthony J. Santilli, hereby certify in my capacity as the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, that:

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

     (2)  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
          material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of
          the Company.


                                                     /s/ Anthony J. Santilli
                                                     ------------------------
                                                     Anthony J. Santilli
                                                     Chief Executive Officer

Date: February 13, 2003