<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL
INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 6-MOS 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 JUN-30-1997 SEP-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 17,623,500 19,060,200 21,065,300
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 0 0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 0 0
<EQUITIES> 147,800 186,700 238,500
<MORTGAGE> 825,600 <F1> 869,700 <F2> 878,900 <F3>
<REAL-ESTATE> 0 0 0
<TOTAL-INVEST> 21,209,100 23,234,900 26,135,600
<CASH> 0 0 0
<RECOVER-REINSURE> 537,700 792,700 787,900
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 3,127,700 <F4> 3,233,300 <F5> 3,423,600 <F6>
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 30,879,100 34,142,400 37,773,000
<POLICY-LOSSES> 19,185,500 20,288,300 21,007,500
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 347,800 439,200 442,600
<POLICY-OTHER> 787,000 1,019,500 957,600
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 321,500 350,700 307,800
<NOTES-PAYABLE> 2,292,500 <F7> 3,248,600 <F8> 4,215,100 <F9>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 900,000 900,000 900,000
<PREFERRED> 133,100 122,000 122,000
<COMMON> 2,764,000 2,717,000 2,726,300
<OTHER-SE> 1,577,500 <F10> 1,917,700 <F11> 2,200,300 <F12>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 30,879,100 34,142,400 37,773,000
<PREMIUMS> 670,100 1,555,100 2,440,900
<INVESTMENT-INCOME> 478,900 1,007,000 1,561,700
<INVESTMENT-GAINS> 5,100 20,900 137,300
<OTHER-INCOME> 211,100 <F13> 459,000 <F14> 732,200 <F15>
<BENEFITS> 645,200 <F16> 1,448,300 <F17> 2,275,500 <F18>
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 97,600 <F19> 206,300 <F20> 325,400 <F21>
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 201,100 460,900 716,500
<INCOME-PRETAX> 342,500 747,200 1,212,400
<INCOME-TAX> 126,500 276,800 456,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 216,000 470,400 756,400
<DISCONTINUED> 0 0 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> (3,300) (5,500) (6,200)
<CHANGES> 0 0 0
<NET-INCOME> 202,700 440,800 712,300
<EPS-PRIMARY> .62 1.37 2.23
<EPS-DILUTED> .57 1.27 2.06
<RESERVE-OPEN> 0 0 0
<PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 0 0
<PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 0 0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 0 0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 0 0
<RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 0 0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0 0 0
<FN>
<F1> Includes $491,200 of credit-tenant loans.
<F2> Includes $545,200 of credit-tenant loans.
<F3> Includes $570,100 of credit-tenant loans.
<F4> Includes $2,470,100 of cost of policies purchased.
<F5> Includes $2,505,300 of cost of policies purchased.
<F6> Includes $2,581,800 of cost of policies purchased.
<F7> Includes $1,024,400 related to consumer and commercial finance debt.
<F8> Includes $1,474,900 related to consumer and commercial finance debt.
<F9> Includes $1,845,400 related to consumer and commercial finance debt.
<F10> Includes retained earnings of $1,734,300 and accumulated other
comprehensive income of $(156,800).
<F11> Includes retained earnings of $1,927,400 and accumulated other
comprehensive income of $(9,700).
<F12> Includes retained earnings of $2,158,900 and accumulated other
comprehensive income of $41,400.
<F13> Includes gain on loan securitizations of $158,100 and fee revenue and
other income of $53,000.
<F14> Includes gain on loan securitizations of $348,600 and fee revenue and
other income of $110,400.
<F15> Includes gain on loan securitizations of $554,900 and fee revenue and
other income of $177,300.
<F16> Includes insurance policy benefits of $455,300 and amounts added to
annuity and financial product policyholder account balances of $189,900.
<F17> Includes insurance policy benefits of $1,068,500 and amounts added to
annuity and financial product policyholder account balances of $379,800.
<F18> Includes insurance policy benefits of $1,686,900 and amounts added to
annuity and financial product policyholder account balances of $588,600.
<F19> Includes amortization of cost of policies purchased of $60,000,
amortization of cost of policies produced of $24,900 and amortization
related to investment gains of $11,800.
<F20> Includes amortization of cost of policies purchased of $129,400,
amortization of cost of policies produced of $50,300 and amortization
related to investment gains of $26,600.
<F21> Includes amortization of cost of policies purchased of $175,900,
amortization of cost of policies produced of $79,100 and amortization
related to investment gains of $70,400.
</FN>