<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM" AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERNCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 758,765,418 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 83,041,099 <MORTGAGE> 212,118,221 <REAL-ESTATE> 38,808,815 <TOTAL-INVEST> 1,092,733,553 <CASH> 26,619,996 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 618,682 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,567,765,073 <POLICY-LOSSES> 992,204,872 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 1,044,118 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,500,000 <OTHER-SE> 280,611,378 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,567,765,073 <PREMIUMS> 820,638,922 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 76,104,738 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> (1,533,222) <OTHER-INCOME> 406,226,647 <BENEFITS> 1,025,798,687 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 73,862,992 <INCOME-TAX> 38,604,652 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 35,258,340 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0