<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from American Financial Corporation 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 1997 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> $404,801 <SECURITIES> 10,668,133<F1> <RECEIVABLES> 638,718 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 15,173,046 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 523,062 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 9,625 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 162,760 <OTHER-SE> 1,275,372 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 15,173,046 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 945,627 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 77,187 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 23,611 <INCOME-PRETAX> 98,211 <INCOME-TAX> 36,221 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 61,990 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (55) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> $61,935 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0<F2> <EPS-DILUTED> 0<F2> <FN> <F1>Includes an investment in investees of $213 million. <F2>Not applicable since all common shares are owned by American Financial Group. </FN>