<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, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       270,130,723
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                       90,312,388
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                           0
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             360,443,111
<CASH>                                      22,078,888
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                      16,449,283
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             438,716,607
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            158,545,203
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                         88,946,237
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<COMMON>                                    90,434,318
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                  81,572,766
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               438,716,607
<PREMIUMS>                                 118,795,552
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         11,867,066
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           1,037,237
<OTHER-INCOME>                               4,007,035
<BENEFITS>                                  86,968,743
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                          0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        32,926,823
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             14,348,063
<INCOME-TAX>                                 3,890,789
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         10,457,274
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                10,457,274
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .58
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .58
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0