<ARTICLE> 7 <CIK> 0000018508 <NAME> Foremost Corporation of America <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> US Dollars <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-Mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> Jun-30-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 376,858 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 1,017 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 1,046 <EQUITIES> 84,719 <MORTGAGE> 12,216 <REAL-ESTATE> 12,247 <TOTAL-INVEST> 504,399 <CASH> 1,960 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 22,730 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 75,762 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 753,279 <POLICY-LOSSES> 89,621 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 255,977 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 97,944 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 27,244 <OTHER-SE> 225,311 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 753,279 <PREMIUMS> 216,810 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 12,154 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 4,043 <OTHER-INCOME> 1,289 <BENEFITS> 129,403 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 64,212 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 13,386 <INCOME-PRETAX> 27,295 <INCOME-TAX> (6,620) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 20,675 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (3,310) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 17,365 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.63 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.62 <RESERVE-OPEN> 82,722 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 130,116 <PROVISION-PRIOR> (713) <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 92,183 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 30,372 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 89,621 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0