<ARTICLE>                                                                 7
<LEGEND>   THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF FOREMOST CORPORATION OF AMERICA FOR THE
PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                          1,000
<CURRENCY>                                                     U.S. DOLLARS

                                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                         9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                                  JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                    SEP-30-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                           1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                                388,918
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                                   501
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                                     520
<EQUITIES>                                                           62,382
<MORTGAGE>                                                            3,072
<REAL-ESTATE>                                                        14,231
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                                      498,112
<CASH>                                                                1,219
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                                   25,563
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                               78,792
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      771,079
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                                      87,336
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                                 273,541
<POLICY-OTHER>                                                            0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                                     0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                      83,950
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                               0
<COMMON>                                                             26,615
<OTHER-SE>                                                          242,187
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        771,079
<PREMIUMS>                                                          334,590
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                  19,224
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                                    4,878
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                        2,747
<BENEFITS>                                                          195,797
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                                         100,814
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                                 18,119
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                      46,709
<INCOME-TAX>                                                       (11,893)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                  34,816
<DISCONTINUED>                                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                         34,816
<EPS-BASIC>                                                          1.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                          1.28
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                                       84,128
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                                 200,079
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                                   (4,282)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                                  153,921
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                                     39,914
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                                      87,336
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                                   0