<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM FORM 10-K FOR THE
TWELVE  MONTHS  ENDED  DECEMBER  31, 1998 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           2602870
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                          0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                            0
<EQUITIES>                                     4627
<MORTGAGE>                                     0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                  0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 2779706
<CASH>                                         176859
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         24065
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 3050541
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                681274
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            183739
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                442000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       121111   
<OTHER-SE>                                     1519480  
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   3050541  
<PREMIUMS>                                     763284   
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            143019   
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             18288    
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 47075    
<BENEFITS>                                     211354   
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    3091     
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           186940   
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                554585   
<INCOME-TAX>                                   169120   
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            385465   
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0        
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0        
<CHANGES>                                      0        
<NET-INCOME>                                   385465   
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  3.44     
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  3.39     
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                            0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                              0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                             0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                               0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                        0