This paper reports the isolation and characterization of a family of abscisic acid (ABA)-responsive element (ABRE) binding factors (ABFs) from young *Arabidopsis thaliana* plants under stress conditions. ABFs are bZIP proteins that can bind to both G/ABREs and C/ABREs, and their expression is induced by ABA and various environmental stresses. The factors were isolated using a yeast one-hybrid system and named ABF1, ABF2, ABF3, and ABF4. In vitro binding assays showed that ABF1 prefers the strong ABRE, CACCGTGC. ABFs can transactivate an ABRE-containing reporter gene in yeast, suggesting their potential to activate a large number of ABA/stress-responsive genes. The expression patterns of ABFs differ, indicating their involvement in different ABA-mediated stress-signaling pathways. The study highlights the existence of a new family of ABRE binding factors that play a crucial role in ABA-regulated gene expression during plant stress responses.This paper reports the isolation and characterization of a family of abscisic acid (ABA)-responsive element (ABRE) binding factors (ABFs) from young *Arabidopsis thaliana* plants under stress conditions. ABFs are bZIP proteins that can bind to both G/ABREs and C/ABREs, and their expression is induced by ABA and various environmental stresses. The factors were isolated using a yeast one-hybrid system and named ABF1, ABF2, ABF3, and ABF4. In vitro binding assays showed that ABF1 prefers the strong ABRE, CACCGTGC. ABFs can transactivate an ABRE-containing reporter gene in yeast, suggesting their potential to activate a large number of ABA/stress-responsive genes. The expression patterns of ABFs differ, indicating their involvement in different ABA-mediated stress-signaling pathways. The study highlights the existence of a new family of ABRE binding factors that play a crucial role in ABA-regulated gene expression during plant stress responses.