<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 62,869 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 12,952 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 13,163 <EQUITIES> 6,408 <MORTGAGE> 713 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 87,025 <CASH> 48,194 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 18,161 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 5,685 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 541,613 <POLICY-LOSSES> 58,455 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 29,344 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 56,350 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 637 <OTHER-SE> 318,236 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 541,613 <PREMIUMS> 33,417 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 4,101 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 2,350 <OTHER-INCOME> 212 <BENEFITS> 16,995 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 10,350 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 4,770 <INCOME-PRETAX> 41,427 <INCOME-TAX> 14,343 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 27,084 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 27,084 <EPS-PRIMARY> .48 <EPS-DILUTED> .39 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0