<ARTICLE> 7
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           133,455
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                       5,312
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 138,767
<CASH>                                          20,692
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                               8,631
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           5,057
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 295,635
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 95,998
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             50,564
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 14,350
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            87
<OTHER-SE>                                     111,804
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   295,635
<PREMIUMS>                                      48,904
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              5,955
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  79
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  18,218
<BENEFITS>                                      27,532
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      4,276
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            28,782
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 12,567
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,921
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              9,646
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     9,646
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.05
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                  65,775<F1>
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                 63,486<F1>
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Before reinsurance recoverable.
</FN>