EXHIBIT 25.6
================================================================================


                                    FORM T-1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                   UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
                    CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

                      CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
                      ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
                             SECTION 305(b)(2)   |__|



                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK
               (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

New York                                                13-5160382
(State of incorporation                                 (I.R.S. employer
if not a U.S. national bank)                            identification no.)

One Wall Street, New York, N.Y.                         10286
(Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip code)



                              RGA CAPITAL TRUST III
               (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

Delaware                                                To be applied for
(State or other jurisdiction of                         (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                          identification no.)


1370 Timberlake Manor Parkway
Chesterfield, Missouri                                  63017-6039
(Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip code)

                                  -------------

                              Preferred Securities
                       (Title of the indenture securities)

================================================================================




1.      GENERAL INFORMATION. FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE
        TRUSTEE:

        (A) NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR SUPERVISING AUTHORITY TO WHICH
IT IS SUBJECT.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Name                                        Address
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Superintendent of Banks of the State of         2 Rector Street,
        New York                                        New York, N.Y. 10006,
                                                        and Albany, N.Y. 12203

        Federal Reserve Bank of New York                33 Liberty Plaza,
                                                        New York, N.Y.  10045

        Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation           Washington, D.C. 20429

        New York Clearing House Association             New York, New York 10005

        (B)    WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.

        Yes.

2.      AFFILIATIONS WITH OBLIGOR.

        IF THE OBLIGOR IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH SUCH
        AFFILIATION.

        None.

16.     LIST OF EXHIBITS.

        EXHIBITS IDENTIFIED IN PARENTHESES BELOW, ON FILE WITH THE COMMISSION,
        ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE AS AN EXHIBIT HERETO, PURSUANT TO
        RULE 7A-29 UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 (THE "ACT") AND 17
        C.F.R. 229.10(D).

        1.     A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York
               (formerly Irving Trust Company) as now in effect, which contains
               the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to
               exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to
               Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits
               1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.
               33-21672 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration
               Statement No. 33-29637.)

        4.     A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to
               Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-31019.)

        6.     The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.
               (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.
               33-44051.)

        7.     A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published
               pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or
               examining authority.







                                      -2-

                                    SIGNATURE



     Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York,
a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York,
has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and State
of New York, on the 31st day of July, 2003.


                          THE BANK OF NEW YORK



                          By:   /s/  VAN K. BROWN
                              ---------------------------------------
                              Name:  VAN K. BROWN
                              Title: VICE PRESIDENT




                                                                       EXHIBIT 7
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       Consolidated Report of Condition of

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK

                    of One Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10286
                     And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business June 30, 2003,
published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this
District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

<Table>
<Caption>
                                                                     Dollar Amounts
ASSETS                                                                In Thousands
                                                                     --------------
                                                                  
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
   Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin ...........     $  4,257,371
   Interest-bearing balances ....................................        6,048,782
Securities:
   Held-to-maturity securities ..................................          373,479
   Available-for-sale securities ................................       18,918,169
Federal funds sold in domestic offices ..........................        6,689,000
Securities purchased under agreements to
   resell .......................................................        5,293,789
Loans and lease financing receivables:
   Loans and leases held for sale ...............................          616,186
   Loans and leases, net of unearned
     income .....................................................       38,342,282
   LESS: Allowance for loan and
     lease losses ...............................................          819,982
   Loans and leases, net of unearned
     income and allowance .......................................       37,522,300
Trading Assets ..................................................        5,741,193
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized
   leases) ......................................................          958,273
Other real estate owned .........................................              441
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and
   associated companies .........................................          257,626
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances
   outstanding ..................................................          159,995
Intangible assets
   Goodwill .....................................................        2,554,921
   Other intangible assets ......................................          805,938
Other assets ....................................................        6,285,971
                                                                      ------------
</Table>



<Table>
                                                                  
Total assets ....................................................     $ 96,483,434
                                                                      ============
LIABILITIES
Deposits:
   In domestic offices ..........................................     $ 37,264,787
   Noninterest-bearing ..........................................       15,357,289
   Interest-bearing .............................................       21,907,498
   In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement
     subsidiaries, and IBFs .....................................       28,018,241
   Noninterest-bearing ..........................................        1,026,601
   Interest-bearing .............................................       26,991,640
Federal funds purchased in domestic
  offices .......................................................          739,736
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase ..................          465,594
Trading liabilities .............................................        2,456,565
Other borrowed money:
   (includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations
   under capitalized leases) ....................................        8,994,708
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and
   outstanding ..................................................          163,277
Subordinated notes and debentures ...............................        2,400,000
Other liabilities ...............................................        7,446,726
                                                                      ------------
Total liabilities ...............................................     $ 87,949,634
                                                                      ============
Minority interest in consolidated
   subsidiaries .................................................          519,472

EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related
   surplus ......................................................                0
Common stock ....................................................        1,135,284
Surplus .........................................................        2,056,273
Retained earnings ...............................................        4,694,161
Accumulated other comprehensive income ..........................          128,610
Other equity capital components .................................                0
Total equity capital ............................................        8,014,328
                                                                      ------------
Total liabilities minority interest and equity capital ..........     $ 96,483,434
                                                                      ============
</Table>



         I, Thomas J. Mastro, Senior Vice President and Comptroller of the
above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and
correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

                                                          Thomas J. Mastro,
                                      Senior Vice President and Comptroller

         We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this
statement of resources and liabilities. We declare that it has been examined by
us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance
with the instructions and is true and correct.

Thomas A. Renyi
Gerald L. Hassell                 Directors
Alan R. Griffith

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------