<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 379,234,000 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 102,958,000 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 493,213,000 <CASH> 14,423,000 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 25,096,000 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 56,807,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 747,669,000 <POLICY-LOSSES> 126,733,000 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 236,309,000 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 29,201,000 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 71,691,000 <COMMON> 911,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 205,170,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 747,669,000 <PREMIUMS> 90,479,000 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5,842,000 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 1,039,000 <OTHER-INCOME> 9,877,000 <BENEFITS> 48,121,000 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 25,513,000 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 14,855,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8,584,000 <INCOME-TAX> 2,544,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,040,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,040,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.67 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.64 <RESERVE-OPEN> 108,334,000 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 112,149,000 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0