<ARTICLE>                                7
<CIK>                                    0000018508
<NAME>                                   Foremost Corporation of America
<MULTIPLIER>                             1,000
<CURRENCY>                               US Dollars
       
                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                           9-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                       Dec-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                          Jan-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                            Sep-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     359,590
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                      2,213
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                        2,218
<EQUITIES>                                93,443
<MORTGAGE>                                11,883
<REAL-ESTATE>                             14,853
<TOTAL-INVEST>                           506,858
<CASH>                                     3,731
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                        22,309
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                    79,301
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           746,016
<POLICY-LOSSES>                           84,156
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                      260,470
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                           95,098
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                  14,000
<OTHER-SE>                               227,463
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             746,016
<PREMIUMS>                               321,550
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                       19,292
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                         8,794
<OTHER-INCOME>                             1,831
<BENEFITS>                               191,628
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>               93,084
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                      21,667
<INCOME-PRETAX>                           45,088
<INCOME-TAX>                             (12,396)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       32,692
<DISCONTINUED>                               110
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                              32,802
<EPS-PRIMARY>                               3.52
<EPS-DILUTED>                               3.52
<RESERVE-OPEN>                            92,976
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                      187,578
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                          4,050
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                       145,468
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                          54,980
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                           84,156
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                        0