<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, 1999 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

<S>                                  <C>             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                        12-MOS          12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-1999     DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                            JAN-01-1999     JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                              DEC-31-1999     DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                              0               0
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                            516             529
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                    0               0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                    0               0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       633             488
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                              0               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                0               0
<LOANS>                                        14,795          11,854
<ALLOWANCE>                                      (316)           (271)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 17,973          14,366
<DEPOSITS>                                          0               0
<SHORT-TERM>                                    5,202           3,681
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             1,783           1,945
<LONG-TERM>                                     8,630           6,768
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0               0
<PREFERRED>                                       400             400
<COMMON>                                        1,642           1,450
<OTHER-SE>                                        305             112
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 17,973          14,366
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 1,197           1,047
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                   0               0
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                    0               0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                1,197           1,047
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                  0               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                685             624
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                             512             423
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                     136              77
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  0               0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                   456             399
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   439             290
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                        439             290
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0               0
<CHANGES>                                           0               0
<NET-INCOME>                                      284             193
<EPS-BASIC>                                      2.75            2.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    2.74            2.23
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                   3.94            3.73
<LOANS-NON>                                       204             207
<LOANS-PAST>                                      133              84
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                   14              14
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                     0               0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                  271             261
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                     116             145
<RECOVERIES>                                       18              64
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                 316             271
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                0               0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                 0               0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                           316             271



</TABLE>