<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM STATE AUTO
FINANCIAL CORPORATION'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE INTERIM PERIOD
ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       605,995,000
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                       41,056,000
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                  55,135,000
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             702,186,000
<CASH>                                      10,751,000
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                      31,367,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             842,079,000
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            237,448,000
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                        153,091,000
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                             45,500,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                   106,278,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 241,549,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               842,079,000
<PREMIUMS>                                 198,288,000
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         18,998,000
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           2,799,000
<OTHER-INCOME>                              10,329,000
<BENEFITS>                                 130,404,000
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                          0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        59,707,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             35,096,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                 8,919,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         26,177,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                26,177,000
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.68
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.67
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0