Exhibit 99.1

                FINANCIAL FEDERAL CORPORATION
              INITIATES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND


NEW YORK, NY:  December 14, 2004 - Financial Federal
Corporation (NYSE: FIF) today announced that its Board of
Directors has declared its first quarterly cash dividend of
$0.10 per share of common stock.  The dividend is payable on
January 31, 2005 to stockholders of record at the close of
business on January 7, 2005.

Paul R. Sinsheimer, Chairman and CEO, commented: "We are
pleased to enhance shareholder value by starting to provide
a cash return.  Our current and projected levels of
liquidity and leverage enable us to pay a cash dividend and
to continue to grow our finance receivables portfolio at a
sound pace."


This document contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those
contained in the forward-looking statements.  Readers are
referred to the most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q
filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission that identify such risks and uncertainties.


Financial Federal Corporation specializes in financing
industrial and commercial equipment through installment sales
and leasing programs for dealers, manufacturers and end users
nationwide.  For additional information, please visit us at
www.financialfederal.com.



CONTACT:  Steven F. Groth, Chief Financial Officer
          (212) 599-8000