<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints DEBRA H. SNIDER and SYLVIA L.
BATEMAN, and each or either of them (with full power to act alone), his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned,
to sign the name of the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1995, to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and to any and all amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document
filed as a part of or in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any
amendment thereto.


Dated:  February 9, 1996



                                    Hajime Maeda
                                    ----------------------------
                                    Hajime Maeda
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints DEBRA H. SNIDER and SYLVIA L.
BATEMAN, and each or either of them (with full power to act alone), his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned,
to sign the name of the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1995, to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and to any and all amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document
filed as a part of or in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any
amendment thereto.


Dated:  February 6, 1996



                                    Mitchell F. Vernick
                                    ----------------------------
                                    Mitchell F. Vernick
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints DEBRA H. SNIDER and SYLVIA L.
BATEMAN, and each or either of them (with full power to act alone), his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned,
to sign the name of the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1995, to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and to any and all amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document
filed as a part of or in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any
amendment thereto.


Dated:  February 6, 1996



                                       Hidehiko Ide
                                       -------------------------
                                       Hidehiko Ide
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints DEBRA H. SNIDER and SYLVIA L.
BATEMAN, and each or either of them (with full power to act alone), his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned,
to sign the name of the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1995, to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and to any and all amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document
filed as a part of or in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any
amendment thereto.


Dated:  February 9, 1996



                                    Minoru Itosaka
                                    ----------------------------
                                    Minoru Itosaka
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints DEBRA H. SNIDER and SYLVIA L.
BATEMAN, and each or either of them (with full power to act alone), his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned,
to sign the name of the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1995, to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and to any and all amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document
filed as a part of or in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any
amendment thereto.


Dated:  February 11, 1996



                                    Mark Kessel
                                    ----------------------------
                                    Mark Kessel
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints DEBRA H. SNIDER and SYLVIA L.
BATEMAN, and each or either of them (with full power to act alone), his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned,
to sign the name of the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1995, to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and to any and all amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document
filed as a part of or in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any
amendment thereto.


Dated:  February 9, 1996



                                    Tomonori Kobayashi
                                    ----------------------------
                                    Tomonori Kobayashi
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints DEBRA H. SNIDER and SYLVIA L.
BATEMAN, and each or either of them (with full power to act alone), his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned,
to sign the name of the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1995, to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and to any and all amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document
filed as a part of or in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any
amendment thereto.


Dated:  February 6, 1996



                                    Michael J. Litwin
                                    ----------------------------
                                    Michael J. Litwin
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints DEBRA H. SNIDER and SYLVIA L.
BATEMAN, and each or either of them (with full power to act alone), his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned,
to sign the name of the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1995, to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and to any and all amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document
filed as a part of or in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any
amendment thereto.


Dated:  February 13, 1996



                                    Dennis P. Lockhart
                                    ----------------------------
                                    Dennis P. Lockhart
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints DEBRA H. SNIDER and SYLVIA L.
BATEMAN, and each or either of them (with full power to act alone), her true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned,
to sign the name of the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1995, to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and to any and all amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document
filed as a part of or in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any
amendment thereto.


Dated:  February 9, 1996



                                    Lauralee E. Martin
                                    ----------------------------
                                    Lauralee E. Martin
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints DEBRA H. SNIDER and SYLVIA L.
BATEMAN, and each or either of them (with full power to act alone), his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned,
to sign the name of the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1995, to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and to any and all amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document
filed as a part of or in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any
amendment thereto.


Dated:  February 7, 1996



                                    Kenji Miyamoto
                                    ----------------------------
                                    Kenji Miyamoto
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints DEBRA H. SNIDER and SYLVIA L.
BATEMAN, and each or either of them (with full power to act alone), his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned,
to sign the name of the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1995, to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and to any and all amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document
filed as a part of or in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any
amendment thereto.


Dated:  February 7, 1996



                                    Osamu Ogura
                                    ----------------------------
                                    Osamu Ogura
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints DEBRA H. SNIDER and SYLVIA L.
BATEMAN, and each or either of them (with full power to act alone), his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned,
to sign the name of the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1995, to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and to any and all amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document
filed as a part of or in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any
amendment thereto.


Dated:  February 6, 1996



                                    Masahiro Sawada
                                    ----------------------------
                                    Masahiro Sawada
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints DEBRA H. SNIDER and SYLVIA L.
BATEMAN, and each or either of them (with full power to act alone), his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned,
to sign the name of the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1995, to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and to any and all amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document
filed as a part of or in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any
amendment thereto.


Dated:  February 6, 1996



                                    Atsushi Takano
                                    ----------------------------
                                    Atsushi Takano
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned director of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints DEBRA H. SNIDER and SYLVIA L.
BATEMAN, and each or either of them (with full power to act alone), his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent in the name and on behalf of the undersigned,
to sign the name of the undersigned to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1995, to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and to any and all amendments thereto or to any other instrument or document
filed as a part of or in connection with such Annual Report on Form 10-K or any
amendment thereto.


Dated:  February 7, 1996



                                    Kenji Watanabe
                                    ----------------------------
                                    Kenji Watanabe