<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM 6/30/96
BALANCE SHEET AND INCOME STATMENT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       140,209,896
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                      190,869,754
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                        195,421,726
<EQUITIES>                                  17,489,264
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             368,706,115
<CASH>                                       1,416,055
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                          17,654,792
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                       8,992,595
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             420,125,974
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            213,287,789
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                         47,859,732
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        3,671,984
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<COMMON>                                    10,962,227
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                 128,347,524
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               420,125,974
<PREMIUMS>                                  80,913,385
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         11,685,151
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              50,686
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 144,914
<BENEFITS>                                  59,554,518
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                 15,640,483   
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                         9,895,701  
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              5,856,773  
<INCOME-TAX>                                 1,053,105 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          4,803,668  
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 4,803,668    
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .44 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .44   
<RESERVE-OPEN>                             205,422,109
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                         69,590,596
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                         (10,036,078)    
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                          19,276,342
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            36,673,796
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            213,287,789    
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                   (10,036,078)