content: <PAGE>
   
                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  
                             -------------------------
  
  
                                     FORM 8-K
  
                                  CURRENT REPORT
                      Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                          Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
  
        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): DECEMBER 16, 1996
  
  
                        HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN TRUST 1996-B
                        ----------------------------------
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  
  
          MINNESOTA                   33-55853                41-6409977
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction        (Commission           (IRS employer
     of incorporation)                file numbers)       identification no.)
  
  
  
   1100 LANDMARK TOWERS, 345 ST. PETER STREET, SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA  55102-1639
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip code)
  
  
        Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (612) 293-3400
                                                            ---------------
  
  
                                  NOT APPLICABLE
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
  
  <PAGE>
   
         ITEM 5.     OTHER EVENTS.
                     ------------ 
  
                     Pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement between Green
                     Tree Financial Corporation (the "Servicer") and First Trust
                     (N.A.) (the "Trustee"), on December 16, 1996, the Trustee
                     made distributions to the holders of the certificates
                     representing interests in the Trust (the
                     "Certificateholders") and delivered to the Certificateholders
                     the Monthly Report required by Section 6.05 of the Pooling
                     and Servicing Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
  
         ITEM 7.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
                     ---------------------------------
  
                     (c)  Exhibits.
  
                          The following is filed herewith.  The exhibit number
                          corresponds with Item 601(b) of Regulation S-K.
  
                          Exhibit No.        Description
                          -----------        -----------
  
                              99.1           Monthly Report delivered to
                                             Certificateholders on
                                             December 16, 1996.
   
  <PAGE>
   
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
  the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by
  the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  Dated: December 16, 1996
  
  
                                      HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN TRUST 1996-B
  
                                      By  GREEN TREE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                                          as Servicer with respect to the Trust
  
   
                                      By: /s/ Phyllis A. Knight
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Phyllis A. Knight
                                          Vice President and Treasurer
  <PAGE>
   
                                 INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  
  
  <TABLE> 
  <CAPTION> 
  
  
         EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                                       PAGE
         ------                                                       ----
         <S>         <C>                                              <C> 
          99.1       Monthly Report delivered to Certificateholders    5
                     on December 16, 1996.
  
  </TABLE>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM 8-K HIP 1996-B", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3962}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "GREEN TREE FINANCIAL CORP", "cik": "0000890175", "assigned-sic": "6189", "irs-number": "411263905", "state-of-incorporation": "MN", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-08916", "film-number": "96684187"}, "business-address": {"street1": "500 LANDMARK TOWERS", "street2": "345 ST PETER ST", "city": "SAINT PAUL", "state": "MN", "zip": "55102-1637", "phone": "6122933400"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "500 LANDMARK TOWERS", "street2": "345 ST PETER ST", "city": "SAINT PAUL", "state": "MN", "zip": "55102-1637"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "GREEN TREE ACCEPTANCE INC", "date-changed": "19600201"}}
text: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  
                             -------------------------
  
                                     FORM 8-K
  
                                  CURRENT REPORT
                      Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                          Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): DECEMBER 16, 1996
  
                        HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN TRUST 1996-B
                        ----------------------------------
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
          MINNESOTA                   33-55853                41-6409977
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction        (Commission           (IRS employer
     of incorporation)                file numbers)       identification no.)
  
   1100 LANDMARK TOWERS, 345 ST. PETER STREET, SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA  55102-1639
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip code)
  
        Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (612) 293-3400
                                                            ---------------
  
                                  NOT APPLICABLE
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
  ITEM 5.     OTHER EVENTS.
                     ------------ 
  
                     Pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement between Green
                     Tree Financial Corporation (the "Servicer") and First Trust
                     (N.A.) (the "Trustee"), on December 16, 1996, the Trustee
                     made distributions to the holders of the certificates
                     representing interests in the Trust (the
                     "Certificateholders") and delivered to the Certificateholders
                     the Monthly Report required by Section 6.05 of the Pooling
                     and Servicing Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
  
         ITEM 7.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
                     ---------------------------------
  
                     (c)  Exhibits.
  
                          The following is filed herewith.  The exhibit number
                          corresponds with Item 601(b) of Regulation S-K.
  
                          Exhibit No.        Description
                          -----------        -----------
  
                              99.1           Monthly Report delivered to
                                             Certificateholders on
                                             December 16, 1996.
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
  the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by
  the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  Dated: December 16, 1996
  
                                      HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN TRUST 1996-B
  
                                      By  GREEN TREE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                                          as Servicer with respect to the Trust
  
   
                                      By: /s/ Phyllis A. Knight
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Phyllis A. Knight
                                          Vice President and Treasurer
  INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                                       PAGE
         ------                                                       ----
  99.1       Monthly Report delivered to Certificateholders    5
                     on December 16, 1996.