<ARTICLE>                                      7
 <CIK>                                          0000018508
 <NAME>                                         Foremost Corporation of America
 <MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
 <CURRENCY>                                     US Dollars
        
                                                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                             6-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   Dec-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                                      Jan-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                        Jun-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                               1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                                    348,281
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                                     7,089
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                                       7,109
<EQUITIES>                                                               83,974
<MORTGAGE>                                                               12,586
<REAL-ESTATE>                                                            15,159
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                                          503,574
<CASH>                                                                    3,167
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                                       28,173
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                                   72,697
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                          743,427
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                                          91,390
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                                     254,365
<POLICY-OTHER>                                                                0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                                         0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                          96,264
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                                 14,000
<OTHER-SE>                                                              221,650
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                            743,427
<PREMIUMS>                                                              213,455
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                      13,429
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                                        2,170
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                            1,684
<BENEFITS>                                                              144,386
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                                              61,251
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                                          0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                          10,331
<INCOME-TAX>                                                              1,503 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                       8,828
<DISCONTINUED>                                                              383
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                                              9,211
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                              0.92
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                              0.92
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                                           93,771
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                                     135,681      
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                                           230
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                                       98,462     
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                                         38,889
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                                               0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                                       0