<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 0 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 5,617,131 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 133,021,681 <EQUITIES> 978,391 <MORTGAGE> 1,287,295 <REAL-ESTATE> 899,329 <TOTAL-INVEST> 162,651,692 <CASH> 6,454,956 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 2,069,423 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 37,107,070 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 249,519,435 <POLICY-LOSSES> 152,119,042 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 10,287,780 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 1,873,588 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 937,430 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 53,073,905 <OTHER-SE> 26,507,793 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 249,519,435 <PREMIUMS> 55,362,616 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 10,038,736 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> (320,125) <OTHER-INCOME> 23,945 <BENEFITS> 39,955,150 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 6,819,085 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,029,744 <INCOME-TAX> 604,221 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,425,523 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,425,523 <EPS-PRIMARY> .16 <EPS-DILUTED> .16 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0