<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 3,030,100 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 2,530,900 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 2,558,500 <EQUITIES> 34,400 <MORTGAGE> 76,400 <REAL-ESTATE> 39,900 <TOTAL-INVEST> 6,023,800 <CASH> 20,600 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 162,500 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 6,711,900 <POLICY-LOSSES> 0 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 544,200 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 5,130,200 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 166,100 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 17,000 <COMMON> 43,100 <OTHER-SE> 330,700 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 6,711,900 <PREMIUMS> 24,200 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 112,100 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 300 <OTHER-INCOME> 1,400 <BENEFITS> 89,600 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 6,000 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 16,600 <INCOME-PRETAX> 22,700 <INCOME-TAX> 8,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 14,700 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (1,600) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 13,100 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.29 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.29 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0