<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, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       507,600,000
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                       46,913,000
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                  50,427,000
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             604,940,000
<CASH>                                      38,316,000
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                      28,299,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             750,503,000
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            247,082,000
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                        144,885,000
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                             16,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                   105,526,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 230,520,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               336,046,000
<PREMIUMS>                                 197,329,000
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         16,808,000
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           1,926,000
<OTHER-INCOME>                               1,678,000
<BENEFITS>                                 134,464,000
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                          0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        56,034,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             28,428,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                 7,179,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          7,179,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                21,249,000
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.50
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.50
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0