<ARTICLE>                               7
<LEGEND>
     This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from
     Condensed  Consolidated  Statements  of Financial  Position  and  Condensed
     Consolidated  Statements  of Income and is  qualified  in its  entirety  by
     reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                            1,000,000
       
                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                       DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                          JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                            SEP-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                          3,027
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                             0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                               0
<EQUITIES>                                      858
<MORTGAGE>                                       22
<REAL-ESTATE>                                    12
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                5,527
<CASH>                                        1,404
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                0 <F1>
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          560
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               17,832
<POLICY-LOSSES>                               1,083
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                           2,015
<POLICY-OTHER>                                  834
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                           695
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                               1,272 <F2>
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            50
<PREFERRED>                                       6 <F4> <F5>
<COMMON>                                        171 <F3>
<OTHER-SE>                                    2,744
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 17,832
<PREMIUMS>                                    1,192
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             353
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                5
<OTHER-INCOME>                                2,680 <F6>
<BENEFITS>                                      634
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     159
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                          2,921
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 345
<INCOME-TAX>                                    129
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             186
<DISCONTINUED>                                    0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                   0
<CHANGES>                                         0
<NET-INCOME>                                    186
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.00
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                  715
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                               0 <F1>
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                 0 <F1>
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                0 <F1>
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                  0 <F1>
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                   0 <F1>
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                           0 <F1>
<FN>
<F1>  Available on an annual basis only.
<F2>  Includes short-term borrowings and debt guarantee of ESOP.
<F3> Common stock at par value; adjusted to reflect three-for-two
         stock split on May 14, 1997.
<F4>  Preferred stock at par value.
<F5>      Does not incude  Company-obligated  Mandatorily  Redeemable  Preferred
          Capital  Securities  of Subsidiary  Trust holding  solely to Company's
          Junior Subordinated Debentures.
<F6>  Includes brokerage commissions and fees  and other income.
</FN>