<ARTICLE> 7 <CIK> 0000018508 <NAME> Foremost Corporation of America <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> US Dollars <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-Mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> Mar-31-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 379,263 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 1,511 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 88,238 <MORTGAGE> 12,273 <REAL-ESTATE> 12,496 <TOTAL-INVEST> 508,835 <CASH> 1,292 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 22,203 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 75,317 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 745,745 <POLICY-LOSSES> 86,648 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 246,905 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 91,716 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 32,467 <OTHER-SE> 226,783 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 745,745 <PREMIUMS> 108,307 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 6,340 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 1,617 <OTHER-INCOME> 726 <BENEFITS> 62,562 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 32,209 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 6,939 <INCOME-PRETAX> 15,280 <INCOME-TAX> (3,719) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 11,561 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,561 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.42 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.41 <RESERVE-OPEN> 82,722 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 62,710 <PROVISION-PRIOR> (148) <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 37,128 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 21,531 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 86,648 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0