<ARTICLE> 7 <CIK> 0000018508 <NAME> Foremost Corporation of America <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> US Dollars <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995 <PERIOD-START> JAN-1-1995 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1995 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 372,210 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 7,511 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 7,591 <EQUITIES> 66,084 <MORTGAGE> 13,735 <REAL-ESTATE> 19,140 <TOTAL-INVEST> 520,161 <CASH> 5,184 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 23,342 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 74,052 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 758,494 <POLICY-LOSSES> 97,504 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 251,630 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 99,247 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 14,000 <OTHER-SE> 230,197 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 758,494 <PREMIUMS> 448,079 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 29,344 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 369 <OTHER-INCOME> 3,386 <BENEFITS> 259,133 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 130,457 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 63,548 <INCOME-TAX> 18,223 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 45,325 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 45,325 <EPS-PRIMARY> 4.43 <EPS-DILUTED> 4.43 <RESERVE-OPEN> 92,338 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 256,568 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 2,565 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 202,068 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 54,308 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 97,504 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0