<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 1996 AND THE RELATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS FOR THE THREE
MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           187,088
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                           0
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 214,868<F1>
<CASH>                                          16,737
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 358,160
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                142,284
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 13,081
<COMMON>                                         6,675
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     170,662
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   358,160
<PREMIUMS>                                      74,636
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              3,446
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 374
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   (452)
<BENEFITS>                                       7,960
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                          0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,398
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,223
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              2,175
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,175
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.33
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.33
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 138,312
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                              8,186
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                (226)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                               1,461
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                 2,527
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                142,284
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0
<FN>
<F1>Includes short-term investments.
</FN>