<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 147,163 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 14,838 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 162,001 <CASH> 3,925 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 19,002 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 9,440 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 280,697 <POLICY-LOSSES> 111,016 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 81,882 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 26,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 41,625 <OTHER-SE> 6,778 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 280,697 <PREMIUMS> 39,064 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,159 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 407 <OTHER-INCOME> 3,101 <BENEFITS> 35,447 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 9,746 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 2,435 <INCOME-PRETAX> (2,897) <INCOME-TAX> 1,247 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (1,650) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (1,650) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.29) <EPS-DILUTED> (.29) <RESERVE-OPEN> 92,305 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 35,447 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 9,669 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 24,029 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 93,954 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0