<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         8,426,489
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                      62,058
<MORTGAGE>                                   1,946,989
<REAL-ESTATE>                                   12,929
<TOTAL-INVEST>                              10,784,551
<CASH>                                          32,969
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         762,544
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              14,571,572
<POLICY-LOSSES>                             10,170,239
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             24,267
<POLICY-OTHER>                                  10,657
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                           13,270
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                240,800
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        32,068
<OTHER-SE>                                     984,828
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                14,571,572
<PREMIUMS>                                      28,740
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            593,001
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              16,953
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 104,037
<BENEFITS>                                     425,550
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     73,653
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            55,463
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                147,897
<INCOME-TAX>                                    47,946
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             90,067
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    90,067
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.81
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.75
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0