<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