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                                                                    EXHIBIT 25.1


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM T-1

                            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 FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
              (EXACT NAME OF TRUSTEE AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

     A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION                        36-0899825
                                                        (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
                                                     IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS                60670-0126
 (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                  (ZIP CODE)

                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
                      ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, SUITE 0286
                         CHICAGO, ILLINOIS   60670-0286
            ATTN:  LYNN A. GOLDSTEIN, LAW DEPARTMENT (312) 732-6919
           (NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                      ___________________________________

                     UNITED COMPANIES FINANCIAL CORPORATION
              (EXACT NAME OF OBLIGOR AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

              LOUISIANA                                    71-0430414
   (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                      (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
   INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                    IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

           4041 ESSEN LANE
        BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA                               70809
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                   (ZIP CODE)


                             SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
                         (TITLE OF INDENTURE SECURITIES)
   2
ITEM 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.

                 Comptroller of Currency, Washington, D.C.,
                 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
                 Washington, D.C., The Board of Governors of
                 the Federal Reserve System, Washington D.C.

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

                 The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate
                 trust powers.

ITEM 2.          AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.  IF THE OBLIGOR
                 IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH
                 SUCH AFFILIATION.

                 No such affiliation exists with the trustee.


ITEM 16.         LIST OF EXHIBITS.   LIST BELOW ALL EXHIBITS FILED AS A
                 PART OF THIS STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY.

                 1.  A copy of the articles of association of the
                     trustee now in effect.*

                 2.  A copy of the certificates of authority of the
                     trustee to commence business.*

                 3.  A copy of the authorization of the trustee to
                     exercise corporate trust powers.*

                 4.  A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.*

                 5.  Not Applicable.

                 6.  The consent of the trustee required by
                     Section 321(b) of the Act.





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

                 8.  Not Applicable.

                 9.  Not Applicable.


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
         amended, the trustee, The First National Bank of Chicago, a national
         banking association organized and existing under the laws of the
         United States of America, has duly caused this Statement of
         Eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
         duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois, on
         the 13th day of September, 1994.


                     THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                     TRUSTEE,

                     BY       /S/ JOHN R. PRENDIVILLE
                              JOHN R. PRENDIVILLE
                              VICE PRESIDENT



         *Exhibits 1, 2, 3, and 4 are herein incorporated by reference to
         Exhibits bearing identical numbers in Item 12 of the Form T-1 of The
         First National  Bank of Chicago, filed as Exhibit 26(b) to the
         Registration Statement on  Form S-3 of Dow Capital B.V. and The Dow
         Chemical Company, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
         June 3, 1991 (Registration No. 33-36314).





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                                   EXHIBIT 6



                      THE CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE REQUIRED
                          BY SECTION 321(b) OF THE ACT


                                                 September 13, 1994



Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C.  20549


Gentlemen:

In connection with the qualification of an indenture between United Companies
Financial Corporation and The First National Bank of Chicago, the undersigned,
in accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, hereby consents that the reports of examinations of the undersigned,
made by Federal or State authorities authorized to make such examinations, may
be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
its request therefor.


                                  Very truly yours,

                                  THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO

                                  BY:      /S/ JOHN R. PRENDIVILLE
                                           JOHN R. PRENDIVILLE
                                           VICE PRESIDENT





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                                   EXHIBIT 7



         A  copy of the latest report of conditions of the trustee published
         pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining
         authority.





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Legal Title of Bank:      The First National Bank of Chicago        Call Date: 6/30/94  ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address:                  One First National Plaza, Suite 0460                                          Page RC-1
City, State  Zip:         Chicago, IL  60670-0460
FDIC Certificate No.:     0/3/6/1/8
                          ---------


CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION FOR INSURED COMMERCIAL
AND STATE-CHARTERED SAVINGS BANKS FOR JUNE 30, 1994

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars.  Unless otherwise
indicated, report the amount outstanding of the last business day of the
quarter.

SCHEDULE RC--BALANCE SHEET




                                                                                                            C400            (-     
                                                                         DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN              ------------     -------
                                                                              THOUSANDS         RCFD    BIL MIL THOU
                                                                         -----------------      ----    ------------
                                                                                                             
ASSETS
1.   Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule
     RC-A):
     a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1) . . . . .                         0081     2,999,432        1.a.
     b. Interest-bearing balances(2)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                         0071     7,408,337        1.b.
2.   Securities
     a. Held-to-maturity securities(from Schedule RC-B, column A) . . .                         1754       114,178        2.a.
     b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D). .                         1773       354,495        2.b.
3.   Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to
     resell in domestic offices of the bank and its Edge and Agreement
     subsidiaries, and in IBFs:
     a. Federal Funds sold  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                         0276     3,997,507        3.a.
     b. Securities purchased under agreements to resell . . . . . . . .                         0277       756,008        3.b.
4.   Loans and lease financing receivables:
     a. Loans and leases, net of unearned income (from Schedule
     RC-C)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  RCFD 2122 14,441,302                             4.a.
     b. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses . . . . . . . . . . .  RCFD 3123    336,826                             4.b.
     c. LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . .  RCFD 3128       0                                4.c.
     d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and             
        reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . .                         2125    14,104,476        4.d.
5.   Assets held in trading accounts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                         3545     9,635,521        5.
6.   Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) . . . . .                         2145       489,446        6.
7.   Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M) . . . . . . . . . . .                         2150        59,331        7.
8.   Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated
     companies (from Schedule RC-M) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                         2130         6,886        8.
9.   Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding . . .                         2155       445,848        9.
10.  Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                         2143       131,253       10.
11.  Other assets (from Schedule RC-F)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                         2160     1,283,273       11.
12.  Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11) . . . . . . . . . . . . .                         2170    41,785,991       12.


__________________

(1)  Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2)  Includes time certificates of deposit not held in trading accounts.





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Legal Title of Bank:              The First National Bank of Chicago         Call Date: 6/30/94  ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address:                          One First National Plaza, Suite 0460                                           Page RC-2
City, State  Zip:                 Chicago, IL  60670-0460
FDIC Certificate No.:             0/3/6/1/8
                                  ---------


SCHEDULE RC-CONTINUED



                                                                    DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN
                                                                        THOUSANDS                      BIL MIL THOU
                                                                    -----------------                  ------------
                                                                                                           
LIABILITIES
13.  Deposits:
     a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C
        from Schedule RC-E, part 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                         RCON 2200     14,100,202     13.a.
        (1) Noninterest-bearing(1)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  RCON 6631  5,795,942                                13.a.(1)
        (2) Interest-bearing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  RCON 6636  8,304,260                                13.a.(2)
     b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and                                      
        IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, part II)  . . . . . . . . . . .                         RCFN 2200      9,752,314     13.b.
        (1) Noninterest bearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  RCFN 6631    459,474                                13.b.(1)
        (2) Interest-bearing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  RCFN 6636  9,292,840                                13.b.(2)
14.  Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements                                     
     to repurchase in domestic offices of the bank and of                                             
     its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBFs:                                                
     a. Federal funds purchased . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                         RCFD 0278      2,766,451     14.a.
     b. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase  . . . . .                         RCFD 0279        355,648     14.b.
15.  a. Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury  . . . . . . . .                         RCON 2840        101,744     15.a.
     b. Trading Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                         RCFD 3548      6,864,567     15.b.
16.  Other borrowed money:                                                                            
     a. With original maturity of one year or less  . . . . . . .                         RCFD 2332      1,955,477     16.a.
     b. With original  maturity of more than one year . . . . . .                         RCFD 2333        488,023     16.b.
17.  Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized                                          
     leases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                         RCFD 2910        273,578     17.
18.  Bank's liability on acceptance executed and outstanding  . .                         RCFD 2920        445,848     18.
19.  Subordinated notes and debentures  . . . . . . . . . . . . .                         RCFD 3200      1,175,000     19.
20.  Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G) . . . . . . . . . . .                         RCFD 2930        765,341     20.
21.  Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20) . . . . . . .                         RCFD 2948     39,044,193     21.
22.  Limited-Life preferred stock and related surplus . . . . . .                         RCFD 3282              0     22.
EQUITY CAPITAL                                                                                        
23.  Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus  . . . . . . .                         RCFD 3838              0     23.
24.  Common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                         RCFD 3230        200,858     24.
25.  Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock) . .                         RCFD 3839      2,254,940     25.
26.  a. Undivided profits and capital reserves. . . . . . . . . .                         RCFD 3632        287,009     26.a.
     b. Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale                                   
        securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                         RCFD 8434            (38)    26.b.
27.  Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments  . . . .                         RCFD 3284           (971)    27.
28.  Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27)  . . . . .                         RCFD 3210      2,741,798     28.
29.  Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity                                      
     capital (sum of items 21, 22, and 28)  . . . . . . . . . . .                         RCFD 3300     41,785,991     29.




                                                                                                                
Memorandum
To be reported only with the March Report of Condition.
1.   Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that
     best describes the  most comprehensive level of auditing work performed                          Number
     for the bank by independent external auditors as of any date during 1993  . . . . . . . . .  RCFD 6724  N/A      M.1.




                                                                 
1 =  Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance          4 =  Directors' examination of the bank performed by other
     with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified           external auditors (may be required by state chartering
     public accounting firm which submits a report on the bank           authority)
2 =  Independent audit of the bank's parent holding company         5 =  Review of the bank's financial statements by external
     conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing            auditors
     standards by a certified public accounting firm which          6 =  Compilation of the bank's financial statements by external
     submits a report on the consolidated holding company                auditors
     (but not on the bank separately)                               7 =  Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)
3 =  Directors' examination of the bank conducted in                8 =  No external audit work
     accordance with generally accepted auditing standards
     by a certified public accounting firm (may be required by
     state chartering authority)

___________________
(1) Includes total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and savings
    deposits.





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