<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 financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           5,193,790
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                          0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                            0
<EQUITIES>                                     24,425
<MORTGAGE>                                     1,738,242
<REAL-ESTATE>                                  11,939
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 7,378,789
<CASH>                                         321
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             442,758
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         621,298
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 9,360,088
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                3,112,330
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            249,499
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          167,479
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          2
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       5,000
<OTHER-SE>                                     822,730
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   9,360,088
<PREMIUMS>                                     228,870
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            255,793
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             1,720
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 1,488
<BENEFITS>                                     322,153
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    39,029
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           56,467
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                70,222
<INCOME-TAX>                                   24,455
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            45,767
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   45,767
<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>