<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated financial statements of Protective Life Insurance Company and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such fiancial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         4,507,650
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                      56,085
<MORTGAGE>                                   1,516,409
<REAL-ESTATE>                                   19,219
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               6,436,198
<CASH>                                          11,959
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             349,806
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         477,153
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               7,921,149
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              2,309,156
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            277,560
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          142,368
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            2,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         5,000
<OTHER-SE>                                     709,013
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 7,921,149
<PREMIUMS>                                     343,111
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            369,280
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               5,882
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   4,100
<BENEFITS>                                     466,692
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     70,162
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            95,746
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 89,773
<INCOME-TAX>                                    30,647
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             59,126
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    59,126
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Protective Life Insurance Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Protective
Life Corporation (NYSE: PL) and is not required to present EPS information.
</FN>