<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
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, 1996, 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 4, 1997



                                    Richard J. Almeida
                                    ------------------
                                    Richard J. Almeida
<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
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, 1996, 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 3, 1997



                                    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
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, 1996, 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 3, 1997



                                    Yukihiko Chayama
                                    ----------------
                                    Yukihiko Chayama
<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
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, 1996, 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 4, 1997



                                    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
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, 1996, 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 4, 1997



                                    Tsutomu Hayano
                                    --------------
                                    Tsutomu Hayano
<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
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, 1996, 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 4, 1997



                                    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
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, 1996, 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:    January 31, 1997



                                    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
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, 1996, 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 3, 1997



                                    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
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, 1996, 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 4, 1997



                                    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
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, 1996, 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 4, 1997



                                    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
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, 1996, 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 4, 1997



                                    Hideo Nakajima
                                    --------------
                                    Hideo Nakajima
<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
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, 1996, 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 3, 1997



                                    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
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, 1996, 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 4, 1997



                                    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
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, 1996, 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 4, 1997



                                    Kenichi Tomita
                                    --------------
                                    Kenichi Tomita
<PAGE>
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

          The undersigned officer of HELLER FINANCIAL, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints DEBRA H. SNIDER
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, 1996, 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 3, 1997



                                    Lawrence G. Hund
                                    ----------------
                                    Lawrence G. Hund