<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF PROVIDENT COMPANIES, INC. FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER
31, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED> 
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                        10,880,100
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                          264,500
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                            263,100
<EQUITIES>                                       4,900
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                  151,100
<TOTAL-INVEST>                              13,317,400
<CASH>                                          19,300
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         421,800
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              14,992,500
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              8,051,300
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             58,800
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 411,700
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        3,881,100
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                200,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    156,200
<COMMON>                                        45,600
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,536,800
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                14,992,500
<PREMIUMS>                                   1,175,700
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          1,090,100
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             (8,600)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  34,700
<BENEFITS>                                   1,661,200
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     64,000
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           340,500
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                226,200
<INCOME-TAX>                                    80,600
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            145,600
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   145,600
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.46<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.44<F1>
<RESERVE-OPEN>                               2,481,500
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                            910,600
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                              107,800
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                             322,400
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                               502,100
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                              2,675,400
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                        (2,000)
<FN>
<F1>HISTORICAL EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN RESTATED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE PROVISIONS OF STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NO. 128,
"EARNINGS PER SHARE," AND TO REFLECT A TWO-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT EFFECTED IN THE
FORM OF A STOCK DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTED ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1997.
</FN>