<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS OF ARM FINANCIAL GROUP INC.'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED AND THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 3,899,938 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 40,478 <MORTGAGE> 16,666 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 4,081,024 <CASH> 186,898 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 81,391 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 6,231,042 <POLICY-LOSSES> 4,024,820 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 38,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 50,000 <COMMON> 232 <OTHER-SE> 251,292 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 6,231,042 <PREMIUMS> 0 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 235,270 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 3,027 <OTHER-INCOME> 17,528 <BENEFITS> 175,331 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 7,680 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 26,975 <INCOME-PRETAX> 26,580 <INCOME-TAX> 9,734 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 16,846 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 16,846 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.66 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.66 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0