<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Heller Financial, Inc. Annual Report Form 10K for the period ending December
31, 1996 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.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
<CURRENCY>   U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                      DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                         JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                           DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                  1
<CASH>                                           0
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                         296
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                28
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    266
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                           0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                             0
<LOANS>                                      8,529
<ALLOWANCE>                                  (225) 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               9,926
<DEPOSITS>                                       0
<SHORT-TERM>                                 2,745
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            896
<LONG-TERM>                                  4,761
<COMMON>                                       663
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            0
<PREFERRED>                                    150
<OTHER-SE>                                     654
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               9,926
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                807
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                0
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               807
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             452
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          355
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                  100
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               0<F1>
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                250
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                183
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     183
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  0
<CHANGES>                                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                   133<F3>
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0<F2>
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                4.44
<LOANS-NON>                                    264
<LOANS-PAST>                                   113
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                14
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               229
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                  159
<RECOVERIES>                                    55
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              225
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                              0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                        225

<FN> 

<F1> The Company is a finance company whose normal operations do not include the
     trading of investment securities.

<F2> Earnings per share information not provided as Heller Financial, Inc. has 
     only one common shareholder.

<F3> Net income is net of $43 million income tax provision and $7 million of 
     minority interest in international income.

</FN> 
         
 

</TABLE>