<ARTICLE> 7
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           147,608
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                       6,818
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 154,426
<CASH>                                          15,872
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              10,421
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           7,639
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 365,022
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                108,684
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             71,525
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 16,867
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            87
<OTHER-SE>                                     122,958
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   365,022
<PREMIUMS>                                      40,013
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              4,438
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  47
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  16,279
<BENEFITS>                                      21,500
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      3,449
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            26,177
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,651
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,504
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              7,147
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     7,147
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.82
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.77
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                  60,786<F1>
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                 61,278<F1>
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1>(Before reinsurance recoverable.)
</FN>