<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from American Financial Corporation's 10-Q for September 30, 1994 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000005016 <NAME> FINANCE DEPARTMENT <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1994 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1994 <CASH> $172,803 <SECURITIES> 7,441,113<F1> <RECEIVABLES> 373,033 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 10,468,956 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 1,080,702 <COMMON> 904 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 5,299 <PREFERRED> 168,428 <OTHER-SE> 302,533<F2> <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 10,468,956 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,569,131 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 197,091 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 87,141 <INCOME-PRETAX> 82,476 <INCOME-TAX> 25,078 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 57,398 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (16,938) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 40,460 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0<F3> <EPS-DILUTED> 0<F3> <FN> <F1>Includes an investment in investees of $850,945. <F2>Includes Capital subject to put option of $37,837. <F3>Not applicable since all common shares are privately owned. </FN>