<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 603576 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 535651 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 562979 <EQUITIES> 0 <MORTGAGE> 178826 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 1342372 <CASH> 0 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 9 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 126614 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2730177 <POLICY-LOSSES> 1162696 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 4013 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMON> 2000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 255279 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2730177 <PREMIUMS> 12376 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 106274 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 547 <OTHER-INCOME> 29631 <BENEFITS> 73758 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 17201 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 10220 <INCOME-PRETAX> 47649 <INCOME-TAX> 16471 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 31178 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 31178 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <RESERVE-OPEN> 1480 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 7485 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 7297 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 1668 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0