Rule 424(b)(3)
                                    Registration Statement
                                    No. 33-64309

PRICING SUPPLEMENT NO. 26,

Dated April 10, 1997, to
Prospectus, dated May 13, 1996 and
Prospectus Supplement, dated May 15, 1996.

                          THE CIT GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
                          MEDIUM-TERM FIXED RATE NOTES
                   DUE NINE MONTHS OR MORE FROM DATE OF ISSUE


(X) Senior Note               ( ) Senior Subordinated Note

Principal Amount:  U.S. $100,000,000.

Proceeds to Corporation:  99.807% or $99,807,000.

Underwriting Discount:  .133%.

Issue Price:  99.940%.

Original Issue Date:  April 15, 1997.

Maturity Date:  April 17, 2000.

Interest Rate Per Annum:  6.80%.

Interest  Payment Dates:  Each April 17 and October 17,  commencing  October 17,
1997,  provided  that if any such day is not a Business Day, the payment will be
made on the next  succeeding  Business  Day as if it were  made on the date such
payment  was due,  and no  interest  will  accrue on the amount  payable for the
period from and after such  Interest  Payment Date or the Maturity  Date, as the
case may be.

      Interest  payments  will  include the amount of interest  accrued from and
      including the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been
      paid (or from and including the Original  Issue Date) to but excluding the
      applicable Interest Payment Date.

The Notes are  offered by the  Underwriters,  as  specified  herein,  subject to
receipt and acceptance by them and subject to their right to reject any order in
whole or in part.  It is expected  that the Notes will be ready for  delivery in
book-entry form on or about April 15, 1997.

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON                     FIRST UNION CAPITAL MARKETS CORP.

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Form:  Global Note.

Specified Currency:  U.S. Dollars.

Trustee, Registrar, Authenticating and Paying Agent:
      The Bank of New York,  under Indenture dated as of May 1, 1994 between the
      Trustee and the Corporation.


                                  UNDERWRITING

      Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and First Union Capital Markets
      Corp. (the "Underwriters") are acting as principals in this transaction.

      Subject  to the  terms  and  conditions  set  forth  in a Term  Sheet  and
      Agreement  dated  April 10,  1997 (the  "Terms  Agreement"),  between  the
      Corporation  and the  Underwriters,  incorporating  the terms of a Selling
      Agency  Agreement  dated May 15, 1996,  between the Corporation and Lehman
      Brothers,  Lehman  Brothers Inc.,  Credit Suisse First Boston  Corporation
      (formerly  known as CS First Boston  Corporation),  Goldman,  Sachs & Co.,
      Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch,  Pierce,  Fenner & Smith Incorporated,
      Morgan  Stanley  &  Co.  Incorporated,   Salomon  Brothers  Inc,  and  UBS
      Securities LLC, the  Corporation  has agreed to sell to the  Underwriters,
      and the Underwriters have each severally agreed to purchase, the principal
      amount of the Notes set forth opposite its name below:

                                                     Principal Amount of
            Underwriter                                the Notes

      Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation          $ 75,000,000
      First Union Capital Markets Corp.                 25,000,000
                                                      ------------
                                          Total       $100,000,000
                                                      ============


      Under the terms and conditions of the Terms  Agreement,  the  Underwriters
      are committed to take and pay for all of the Notes, if any are taken.

      The  Underwriters  have  advised  the  Corporation  that they  propose  to
      initially  offer  the Notes to the  public  at the  Issue  Price set forth
      above,  and to certain  dealers at such  price  less a  concession  not in
      excess of .125% of the principal amount of the Notes, and the Underwriters
      may allow,  and such dealers may reallow,  a concession  to certain  other
      dealers not in excess of .100% of such principal amount. After the initial
      public  offering,  the public  offering price and such  concessions may be
      changed from time to time. In connection  with the sale of the Notes,  the
      Underwriters  may  be  deemed  to  have  received  compensation  from  the
      Corporation in the form of underwriting  discounts,  and the  Underwriters
      may also receive  commissions  from the  purchasers  of the Notes for whom
      they may act as agent.  The  Underwriters and any dealers that participate

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      with the Underwriters in the distribution of the Notes may be deemed to be
      underwriters,  and any discounts or  commissions  received by them and any
      profit on the resale of the Note by them may be deemed to be  underwriting
      discounts or commissions.

      The  Notes  are a new  issue of  securities  with no  established  trading
      market.  The  Corporation  currently has no intention to list the Notes on
      any  securities  exchange.   The  Corporation  has  been  advised  by  the
      Underwriters  that they each  intend to make a market in the Notes but are
      not obligated to do so and may  discontinue  any market making at any time
      without  notice.  No  assurance  can be given as to the  liquidity  of the
      trading market for the Notes.

      The Corporation has agreed to indemnify the  Underwriters  against certain
      liabilities,  including  liabilities  under the Securities Act of 1933, as
      amended.