<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 54,759 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 0 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 111,553 <CASH> 1,731 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 3,849 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 1,162 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 161,605 <POLICY-LOSSES> 100,588 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 6,917 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 364 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 18,941 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 95 <OTHER-SE> 26,214 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 161,605 <PREMIUMS> 86,488 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 7,013 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 1,640 <OTHER-INCOME> 8 <BENEFITS> 79,890 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 14,853 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 13,359 <INCOME-PRETAX> (15,294) <INCOME-TAX> 606 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (15,900) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (15,900) <EPS-PRIMARY> (1.67) <EPS-DILUTED> (1.67) <RESERVE-OPEN> 96,525 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 62,244 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 17,646 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 16,398 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 58,669 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 100,588 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 17,646