<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 119,429 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 0 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 121,979 <CASH> 752 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 4,364 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 1,294 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 164,989 <POLICY-LOSSES> 93,028 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 6,069 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 421 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 18,687 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 95 <OTHER-SE> 42,207 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 164,989 <PREMIUMS> 18,885 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1,813 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 88 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 14,675 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 3,517 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 2,811 <INCOME-PRETAX> (798) <INCOME-TAX> (257) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (541) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (541) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.06) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.06) <RESERVE-OPEN> 96,525 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 13,761 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 914 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 1,528 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 16,732 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 93,028 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 914