<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q FOR
THE NINE MONTHS  ENDED  SEPTEMBER  30, 1998 AND IS  QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                83,019
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                    0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                      0
<EQUITIES>                                               4
<MORTGAGE>                                               0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                            0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                     118,913
<CASH>                                               1,257
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                  12,473
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                              47,769
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     309,819
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                     60,562
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                     90
<POLICY-OTHER>                                      44,693
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                4,495
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                     49,182
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                             1,169
<OTHER-SE>                                         121,325
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       309,819
<PREMIUMS>                                          29,350
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                  5,870
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                       0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       1,047
<BENEFITS>                                          12,384
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                          3,538
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 9,553
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      8,531
<INCOME-TAX>                                         1,552
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  6,979
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                         6,979
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         1.29                              
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         1.25
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                           0 
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                      0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                        0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                       0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                         0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                          0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                  0