1
                                                                    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)


                                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.

                 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.



                                      2
   3





                 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 the State of Illinois, on this 3rd day of February, 1997.


                      THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                      TRUSTEE

                      By  /s/ John R. Prendiville
                          John R. Prendiville
                          Vice President




* EXHIBIT 1, 2, 3 AND 4 ARE HEREIN INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE TO EXHIBITS
BEARING IDENTICAL NUMBERS IN ITEM 16 OF THE FORM T-1 OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
OF CHICAGO, FILED AS EXHIBIT 25.1 TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 OF
SUNAMERICA, INC., FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER
25, 1996 (REGISTRATION NO. 333-14201).





                                      3
   4





                                   EXHIBIT 6



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



                                                                February 3, 1997


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





                                      4
   5





                                  EXHIBIT 7


                                                                                    
Legal Title of Bank:              The First National Bank of Chicago     Call Date: 09/30/96  ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address:                          One First National Plaza, Ste 0460                                          Page RC-1
City, State  Zip:                 Chicago, IL  60670
FDIC Certificate No.:             0/3/6/1/8


Consolidated Report of Condition for Insured Commercial
and State-Chartered Savings Banks for September 30, 1996

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars.  Unless otherwise
indicated, report the amount outstanding as 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     4,041,784        1.a.
         b. Interest-bearing balances(2)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                           0071     5,184,890        1.b.
2.       Securities                                                          
         a. Held-to-maturity securities(from Schedule RC-B, column A) . . .                           1754             0        2.a.
         b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D)  .                           1773     3,173,481        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     3,505,874        3.a.
         b. Securities purchased under agreements to resell . . . . . . . .                           0277       145,625        3.b.
4.       Loans and lease financing receivables:                              
         a. Loans and leases, net of unearned income (from Schedule          
         RC-C)    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    RCFD 2122 22,835,958                             4.a.
         b. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses . . . . . . . . . . .    RCFD 3123    418,851                             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    22,417,107        4.d.
5.       Assets held in trading accounts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                           3545     8,121,948        5.
6.       Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) . . . . .                           2145       707,971        6.
7.       Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M) . . . . . . . . . . .                           2150         9,184        7.
8.       Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated           
         companies (from Schedule RC-M) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                           2130        53,803        8.
9.       Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding . . .                           2155       626,690        9.
10.      Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                           2143       310,246        10.
11.      Other assets (from Schedule RC-F)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                           2160     1,658,123        11.
12.      Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11) . . . . . . . . . . . . .                           2170    49,956,726        12.
                                                                     
                                                                             
- ---------------
(1)  Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2)  Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.





                                       5
   6





                                                                                  
Legal Title of Bank:              The First National Bank of Chicago         Call Date:   09/30/96 ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address:                          One First National Plaza, Ste 0460                                               Page RC-2
City, State  Zip:                 Chicago, IL  60670
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     22,369,341    13.a.
           (1) Noninterest-bearing(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . .       RCON 6631  9,726,9871                                 13.a.(1)
           (2) Interest-bearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       RCON 6636  12,642,354                                 13.a.(2)
      b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and                                                         
      IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, part II)  . . . . . . . . . . .                                 RCFN 2200     10,026,286    13.b.
           (1) Noninterest bearing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       RCFN 6631     336,746                                 13.b.(1)
           (2) Interest-bearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       RCFN 6636   9,689,540                                 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        884,553    14.a.
      b. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase . . . .                                 RCFD 0279        717,211    14.b.
15.   a. Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury . . . . . . .                                 RCON 2840         14,120    15.a.
      b. Trading Liabilities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                 RCFD 3548      5,409,585    15b.
16.   Other borrowed money:                                                                                               
      a. With original maturity of one year or less . . . . . .                                 RCFD 2332      3,414,577    16.a.
      b. With original  maturity of more than one year  . . . .                                 RCFD 2333         46,685    16b.
17.   Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized                                                             
      leases  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                 RCFD 2910        285,671    17.
18.   Bank's liability on acceptance executed and outstanding .                                 RCFD 2920        626,690    18.
19.   Subordinated notes and debentures . . . . . . . . . . . .                                 RCFD 3200      1,250,000    19.
20.   Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)  . . . . . . . . .                                 RCFD 2930      1,005,205    20.
21.   Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)  . . . . .                                 RCFD 2948     46,049,924    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      2,925,894    25.
26.   a. Undivided profits and capital reserves . . . . . . . .                                 RCFD 3632        770,670    26.a.
      b. Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale                                                      
         securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                  RCFD 8434         10,194    26.b.
27.   Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments . . .                                 RCFD 3284          (814)    27.
28.   Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27) . . . .                                 RCFD 3210      3,906,802    28.
29.   Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity                                                         
      capital (sum of items 21, 22, and 28) . . . . . . . . . .                                 RCFD 3300     49,956,726    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 for the bank by independent external               

                                                                                                  Number
auditors as of any date during 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  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.





                                       6