<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME FOUND ON PAGES F-3 THROUGH F-5 OF THE COMPANY'S S-1 FILED ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1995 JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1995 JUN-30-1996 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 3,363 3,016 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 65,052 68,795 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 66,840 68,434 <EQUITIES> 3,076 4,083 <MORTGAGE> 0 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 71,491 75,894 <CASH> 10,202 14,688 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 13,360 14,330 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 316 607 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 120,440 133,905 <POLICY-LOSSES> 55,427 62,345 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 3,581 4,460 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 10,299 11,014 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 10,113 12,938 <COMMON> 119 119 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <OTHER-SE> 32,019 36,323 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 120,440 133,905 <PREMIUMS> 58,167 30,678 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 4,519 2,743 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 174 (7) <OTHER-INCOME> 5,964 4,730 <BENEFITS> 32,924 18,356 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 245 250 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 13,279 8,127 <INCOME-PRETAX> 13,541 5,935 <INCOME-TAX> 5,234 1,683 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,307 4,252 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.38 0.19 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.38 0.19 <RESERVE-OPEN> 31,242 43,304 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 36,074 18,973 <PROVISION-PRIOR> (3,150) (617) <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 10,219 3,296 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 10,643 9,353 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 43,304 49,011 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> (3,150) (617)