<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF PROVIDENT COMPANIES, INC. FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 1998, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                        14,946,500
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                          298,900
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                            355,200
<EQUITIES>                                      12,700
<MORTGAGE>                                      17,800
<REAL-ESTATE>                                   43,700
<TOTAL-INVEST>                              17,498,900
<CASH>                                          42,300
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         413,700
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              23,267,000
<POLICY-LOSSES>                             13,674,900<F1>
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 513,000
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        3,482,600
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                698,900
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       135,800
<OTHER-SE>                                   3,312,700
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                23,267,000
<PREMIUMS>                                   1,759,800
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          1,039,600
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              18,200
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 134,300
<BENEFITS>                                   1,864,000
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     58,200
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           666,900
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                362,800
<INCOME-TAX>                                   135,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            227,800
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   227,800
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.67
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.63
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1>"POLICY-LOSSES" INCLUDE RESERVES FOR FUTURE POLICY AND CONTRACT BENEFITS OF
$13,487,800 AND UNEARNED PREMIUMS OF $187,100.
</FN>