<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000025475 <NAME> CRAWFORD & COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 53,312 <SECURITIES> 126 <RECEIVABLES> 187,976 <ALLOWANCES> 10,978 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 249,298 <PP&E> 123,207 <DEPRECIATION> 90,768 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 385,538 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 107,813 <BONDS> 9,431 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 33,765 <OTHER-SE> 188,270 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 385,538 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 474,089 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 340,871 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 80,407 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 52,811 <INCOME-TAX> 21,297 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 31,514 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 31,514 <EPS-PRIMARY> .92 <EPS-DILUTED> 0