<ARTICLE>                                           7
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                               JUL-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                 SEP-30-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                             576,459
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                             28,891
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                               30,271
<EQUITIES>                                        44,915
<MORTGAGE>                                             0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                          0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                   650,265
<CASH>                                            71,232
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                30,641
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                            18,333
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,184,624
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                  736,267
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                               85,117
<POLICY-OTHER>                                         0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                  0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                   95,761
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                            0
<COMMON>                                              96
<OTHER-SE>                                       212,318
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,184,624
<PREMIUMS>                                        47,982
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                               11,791
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                    81
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     1,842
<BENEFITS>                                        34,579
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                       11,566
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                               4,697
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    8,601
<INCOME-TAX>                                       2,590
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                6,011
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                       6,011
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       0.63
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       0.63
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                         0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                    0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                      0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                     0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                        0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                0