<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-K FOR
THE YEAR ENDED  DECEMBER  31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1998                                  
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            79,402
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                           4
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 110,150
<CASH>                                           2,601
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              12,426
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          48,510
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 301,738
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 60,069
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                 28
<POLICY-OTHER>                                  45,128
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                            4,582
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 47,645
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         1,169
<OTHER-SE>                                     114,151
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   301,738
<PREMIUMS>                                      38,358
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              7,808
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                   0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   1,470
<BENEFITS>                                      16,258
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      5,174
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            11,822
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 11,586
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,368
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              9,218
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     9,218
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.71
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.66
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0