<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS OF ARM FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 2,991,885 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 31,883 <MORTGAGE> 37,159 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 3,181,694 <CASH> 49,808 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 54,231 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,458,601 <POLICY-LOSSES> 3,209,729 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 40,000 <COMMON> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 50,000 <OTHER-SE> 106,144 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,458,601 <PREMIUMS> 0 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 183,203 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> (2,332) <OTHER-INCOME> 17,239 <BENEFITS> 133,349 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 4,599 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 26,353 <INCOME-PRETAX> 18,531 <INCOME-TAX> 3,719 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 14,812 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 14,812 <EPS-PRIMARY> 453.94 <EPS-DILUTED> 453.94 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0