<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 435,238,000 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 136,201,000 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 571,439,000 <CASH> 4,878,000 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 19,235,000 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 68,102,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 822,430,000 <POLICY-LOSSES> 125,893,000 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 259,054,000 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 28,830,000 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 67,448,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 911,000 <OTHER-SE> 250,093,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 822,430,000 <PREMIUMS> 98,137,000 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 6,071,000 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 1,070,000 <OTHER-INCOME> 8,806,000 <BENEFITS> 48,382,000 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 30,005,000 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 14,867,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 11,085,000 <INCOME-TAX> 3,225,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,860,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,860,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> .86 <EPS-DILUTED> .83 <RESERVE-OPEN> 88,267,000 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 86,116,000 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0