<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary of financial information extracted from the
financial statements of The Travelers Life and Annuity Company and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000929498
<NAME> THE TRAVELERS LIFE AND ANNUITY COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           694,535
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                       9,554
<MORTGAGE>                                      90,542
<REAL-ESTATE>                                   10,111
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 947,001
<CASH>                                               0
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          40,027
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,254,283
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                654,534
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        1,210,702
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         3,000
<OTHER-SE>                                     368,868
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,254,483
<PREMIUMS>                                       9,357
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             89,040
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             (9,613)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  16,223
<BENEFITS>                                      56,448
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      3,286
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                             5,691
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 39,582
<INCOME-TAX>                                    13,791
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             25,791
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    25,791
<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