<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000101199
<NAME> UNITED FIRE & CASUALTY CO.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            73,872
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                          619,680
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                            627,749
<EQUITIES>                                      79,633
<MORTGAGE>                                       3,001
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 802,039
<CASH>                                           7,314
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              18,169
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          56,622
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 973,708
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                613,003
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            108,084
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        35,830
<OTHER-SE>                                     178,765
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   973,708
<PREMIUMS>                                     111,802
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             28,096
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               4,848
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     945
<BENEFITS>                                      78,084
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     25,692
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            23,497
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 18,420
<INCOME-TAX>                                     4,504
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             13,916
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,916
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.29
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.29
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0