EXHIBIT 99

                                             Contact:  Max 0. Valdes, Controller
                                                        714) 558-3211, ext. 7450



SANTA ANA,  CALIFORNIA,  APRIL 7, 1998-The First American Financial  Corporation
(NYSE:  FAF)  announced  today the  issuance  and sale of $100  million  of 7.55
percent senior  debentures,  due April 1, 2028.  Chase Securities Inc. and First
Chicago Capital Markets, Inc., underwrote the offering.

     The 30-year bonds were issued at 99.456  percent of the  principal  amount.
Net proceeds will be used for general  corporate  purposes,  including,  without
limitation,  repayment of certain debt and the financing of the  construction of
new corporate facilities.

     The First American Financial  Corporation,  based in Santa Ana, California,
is  the  nation's  leading  provider  of  real   estate-related   financial  and
information  services.  The  corporation's  subsidiaries  include First American
Title  Insurance  Company,  a national and  international  title insurer;  First
American Real Estate  Information  Services,  Inc., which offers tax monitoring,
credit reporting, property data services, flood certification,  field inspection
services,  appraisal  services,  mortgage loan servicing  systems,  and mortgage
document   preparation   nationally;   First  American  Home  Buyers  Protection
Corporation,  a home warranty company; and First American Capital Management, an
investment  advisory  firm. The  Corporation  also operates First American Trust
Company and First Security Thrift Company in Southern California. First American
Financial  has more than  13,000  employees  in over 400  branch  offices in the
United States and abroad.  Information  about the company's  subsidiaries and an
archive  of its press  releases  can be found at  http://www.firstam.com  on the
Internet.