<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> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 6,131,512 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 18,620 <MORTGAGE> 1,262,509 <REAL-ESTATE> 14,637 <TOTAL-INVEST> 7,857,031 <CASH> 0 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 473,521 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 630,191 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 10,029,247 <POLICY-LOSSES> 3,327,212 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 253,192 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 170,051 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 23,268 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 2 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 5,000 <OTHER-SE> 876,860 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 10,029,247 <PREMIUMS> 333,703 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 405,245 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 1,781 <OTHER-INCOME> 2,381 <BENEFITS> 479,560 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 67,517 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 82,692 <INCOME-PRETAX> 113,341 <INCOME-TAX> 38,888 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 74,453 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 74,453 <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>