<ARTICLE> 7
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            17,617
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                          115,626
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                            117,537
<EQUITIES>                                       5,489
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 138,732
<CASH>                                           7,078
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              10,937
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           4,920
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 279,258
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 94,358
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             49,047
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                  3,883
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            87
<OTHER-SE>                                     106,640
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   279,258
<PREMIUMS>                                      31,754
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              3,947
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  31
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  11,045
<BENEFITS>                                      19,132
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      2,806
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            16,310
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  8,529
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,061
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              6,468
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,468
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.71
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.70
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                  65,775<F1>
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                 64,356<F1>
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Before reinsurance recoverable.
</FN>