<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>  1000

                                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                6-MOS                     6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                     DEC-31-1999               DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                        JAN-01-1999               JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                          JUN-30-1999               JUN-30-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    2,539,100                 2,809,600
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                           0                         0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                             0                         0
<EQUITIES>                                933,600                   187,500
<MORTGAGE>                                      0                         0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                   0                         0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                          4,374,900                 3,992,500
<CASH>                                     11,300                    18,500
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              0                         0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          0                         0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          6,116,300                 5,561,700
<POLICY-LOSSES>                         2,513,100                 2,449,700
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             0                         0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                  0                         0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                           0                         0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                           128,800                    82,500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           0                         0
<PREFERRED>                                     0                         0
<COMMON>                                    7,300                     8,200
<OTHER-SE>                              1,934,900                 1,734,600
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>            6,116,300                 5,561,700
<PREMIUMS>                                652,200                   583,000
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                       100,500                    87,000
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                         39,400                    66,500
<OTHER-INCOME>                             59,200                    56,400
<BENEFITS>                                428,100                   378,600
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     0                         0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                      331,800<F1>               292,300<F3>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            91,400                   122,000
<INCOME-TAX>                               31,000                    41,400
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        88,700<F2>               112,200<F4>
<DISCONTINUED>                                  0                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 0                         0
<CHANGES>                                       0                         0
<NET-INCOME>                               88,700                   112,200
<EPS-BASIC>                                  1.21                      1.47
<EPS-DILUTED>                                1.20                      1.45
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                  0                         0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                             0                         0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                               0                         0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                              0                         0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                0                         0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                 0                         0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                         0                         0
<FN>
<F1>  1999 Includes Consumer Finance Expenses of $48.7 million and Other
      Expenses of $7.1 million.
<F2>  1999 Includes Equity in Net Income of Investees of $28.3 million.
<F3>  1998 Includes Consumer Finance Expenses of $46.9 million and Other
      Expenses of $5.6 million.
<F4>  1998 Includes Equity in Net Income of Investees of $31.6 million.
</FN>