<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 2,042,062 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 296,377 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 296,626 <EQUITIES> 33,606 <MORTGAGE> 324,794 <REAL-ESTATE> 22,078 <TOTAL-INVEST> 2,937,948 <CASH> 6,738 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 47,735 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 247,151 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,749,112 <POLICY-LOSSES> 2,361,558 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 38,557 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 261,324 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 51,694 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 3,000 <COMMON> 50,332 <OTHER-SE> 465,739 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3,749,112 <PREMIUMS> 118,339 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 165,635 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> (19,562) <OTHER-INCOME> 14,333 <BENEFITS> 159,393 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 8,073 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 46,828 <INCOME-PRETAX> 32,241 <INCOME-TAX> 9,570 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 29,680 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 29,680 <EPS-BASIC> 0.95 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.94 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0