<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 276461 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 0 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 276461 <CASH> 19244 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 14373 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 13533 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 539601 <POLICY-LOSSES> 335365 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 66887 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 22875 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 81 <OTHER-SE> 99177 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 539601 <PREMIUMS> 49018 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 8485 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 29 <OTHER-INCOME> 498 <BENEFITS> 29967 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 22018 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5215 <INCOME-TAX> 877 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 4338 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 4338 <EPS-PRIMARY> .65 <EPS-DILUTED> .65 <RESERVE-OPEN> 171307 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 29814 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 115 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 4424 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 19267 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 177545 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 115