<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR AMVESTORS FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000005320
<NAME> AMVESTORS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           508,436
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                           11,772
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                             11,257
<EQUITIES>                                         792
<MORTGAGE>                                       5,896
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 526,896
<CASH>                                          13,515
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             111,168
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          46,150
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 711,581
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                650,174
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                            3,798
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 15,500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            75
<OTHER-SE>                                      22,516
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   711,581
<PREMIUMS>                                           0
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              9,578
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 224
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   1,599
<BENEFITS>                                       6,517
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      2,267
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                             3,089
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  (824)
<INCOME-TAX>                                     (305)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              (519)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     (519)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.06)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.06)
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0