<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, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       362,695,000
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                       69,889,000
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                   8,162,000
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             440,746,000
<CASH>                                      23,039,000
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                      19,369,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             535,518,000
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            182,947,000
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                        109,160,000
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    91,899,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 146,100,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               535,518,000
<PREMIUMS>                                 142,540,000
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         13,108,000
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             542,000
<OTHER-INCOME>                               4,682,000
<BENEFITS>                                 100,816,000
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                          0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        41,396,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             17,231,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                 4,366,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         12,865,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                12,865,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.34
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0