<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE BELOW CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                 0
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                           0
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                       0
<CASH>                                           1,342
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                 676
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                             309
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   4,555 
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                    370
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                              1,259
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             1
<OTHER-SE>                                         446
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     4,555
<PREMIUMS>                                         819
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                 71
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                   0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     354
<BENEFITS>                                         427
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                        293
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   (387)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               (387)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                          (98)
<NET-INCOME>                                      (485)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     (.14)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     (.14)
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0