<ARTICLE> 7 <CIK> 0000018508 <NAME> Foremost Corporation of America <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> US Dollars <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-Mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> Jun-30-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 345,619 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 2,267 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 2,272 <EQUITIES> 88,016 <MORTGAGE> 11,956 <REAL-ESTATE> 14,986 <TOTAL-INVEST> 487,617 <CASH> 2,291 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 22,188 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 76,040 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 720,020 <POLICY-LOSSES> 87,395 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 253,862 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 99,263 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 14,000 <OTHER-SE> 209,997 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 720,020 <PREMIUMS> 213,536 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 12,603 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 6,950 <OTHER-INCOME> 1,222 <BENEFITS> 133,399 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 61,863 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 14,557 <INCOME-PRETAX> 24,492 <INCOME-TAX> (6,223) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 18,269 <DISCONTINUED> 90 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 18,359 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.96 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.96 <RESERVE-OPEN> 93,519 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 129,595 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 3,803 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 90,925 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 48,597 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 87,395 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0