<ARTICLE>                        7
<CIK>                            0000018508
<NAME>                           Foremost Corporation of America
<MULTIPLIER>                     1,000
<CURRENCY>                       US Dollars
       
                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    Year
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<PERIOD-END>                     Dec-31-1996
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<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                          (1,123)
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