Exhibit 99



For Release July 7, 2004                                      Contact:
4:01pm                                                        Richard F. Latour
                                                              President and CEO
                                                              Tel: 781-994-4800

                           MICROFINANCIAL INCORPORATED
          - Company Satisfies NYSE Continued Listing Compliance Plan -


Woburn, MA-- July 7, 2004--  MicroFinancial  Incorporated  (NYSE-MFI)  announced
today that the Company has been notified by the New York Stock  Exchange  {NYSE}
that the  Company  has been  removed  from the  NYSE's  "Watch  List" and is now
considered a "Company in Good Standing" in accordance with the NYSE's  continued
listing standards  currently in effect. The NYSE's decision comes as a result of
MicroFinancial  Incorporated's  consistent positive  performance with respect to
the  achievement of the goals and objectives  outlined in its continued  listing
plan, the previous cure of its share price non  compliance,  and the achievement
of a minimum of $15 million of market capitalization based upon a 30 day trading
average over the NYSE's past four quarterly monitoring periods.

The Company has been preliminarily notified by the NYSE of a pending rule change
on eligibility for continued  listing.  The Company will continue to monitor the
status of this  proposed  change and any  effect it might have on the  Company's
compliance with continued listing standards going forward.

In  accordance  with the NYSE's  guidelines,  the  Company  will be subject to a
12-month  follow-up  period to ensure  that it  remains in  compliance  with the
NYSE's  continued  listing  standards  and will  continue  to be  subject to its
routine continued listing monitoring process.

About MicroFinancial

MicroFinancial  Inc. (NYSE:  MFI),  headquartered in Woburn,  MA, is a financial
intermediary  specializing  in leasing and financing for products in the $500 to
$10,000 range. The company has been in operation since 1986.



Statements  in this release that are not  historical  facts are  forward-looking
statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation  Reform  Act  of  1995.  In  addition,   words  such  as  "believes,"
"anticipates,"  "expects,"  "views,  " and similar  expressions  are intended to
identify  forward-looking  statements.  The  Company  cautions  that a number of
important  factors could cause actual  results to differ  materially  from those
expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company.
Readers should not place undue  reliance on  forward-looking  statements,  which
reflect the management's view only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes
no obligation  to publicly  revise these  forward-looking  statements to reflect
subsequent  events or  circumstances.  The Company cannot assure that it will be
able to anticipate or respond timely to changes which could adversely affect its
operating  results in one or more fiscal quarters.  Results of operations in any
past period  should not be  considered  indicative  of results to be expected in
future periods.  Fluctuations in operating results may result in fluctuations in
the price of the Company's common stock. For a more complete  description of the
prominent risks and uncertainties  inherent in the Company's  business,  see the
risk factors described in documents the Company files from time to time with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.