<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 44,810 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 270,406 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 268,589 <EQUITIES> 192,129 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 513,663 <CASH> 0 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 51,686 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 22,498 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 839,015 <POLICY-LOSSES> 243,006 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 130,273 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 46,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 8,454 <OTHER-SE> 191,557 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 839,015 <PREMIUMS> 33,066 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 6,022 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 560 <OTHER-INCOME> 244 <BENEFITS> 15,703 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 9,963 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 3,784 <INCOME-PRETAX> 8,869 <INCOME-TAX> 2,313 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,556 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,556 <EPS-PRIMARY> .85 <EPS-DILUTED> .74 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0