<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF PROVIDENT COMPANIES, INC. FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER
31, 1998, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                        14,835,300
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                          307,000
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                            352,500
<EQUITIES>                                       2,100
<MORTGAGE>                                      17,800
<REAL-ESTATE>                                   43,600
<TOTAL-INVEST>                              17,332,700
<CASH>                                          30,700
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         464,800
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              23,088,100
<POLICY-LOSSES>                             13,829,200<F1>
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 513,800
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        3,227,300
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                639,400
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       135,700
<OTHER-SE>                                   3,272,800
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                23,088,100
<PREMIUMS>                                   2,347,400
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          1,374,000
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              34,000
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 182,600
<BENEFITS>                                   2,577,200
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     79,900
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           878,100
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                402,800
<INCOME-TAX>                                   148,800
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            254,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   254,000
<EPS-BASIC>                                     1.87
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.82
<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
    $13,642,500 AND UNEARNED PREMIUMS OF $186,700.
</FN>