EXHIBIT 5
 
                                                  March 13, 1998
 
Enhance Financial Services Group Inc.
 
335 Madison Avenue
 
New York, New York 10017
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
    I am General Counsel of Enhance Financial Services Group Inc., a New York
corporation (the "Company"), and I am rendering this opinion in connection with
the Registration Statement on Form S-3 with exhibits thereto (as it may be
amended by a Prospectus Supplement, the "Registration Statement") filed by the
Company under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"), relating to the
registration of the Company's Debt Securities (the "Debt Securities") and Common
Stock, par value $.10 per share ("Common Stock").
 
    As such counsel, I have participated in the preparation of the Registration
Statement and have reviewed the corporate proceedings in connection with the
issuance of the Securities. I have also examined and relied upon originals or
copies, certified or otherwise authenticated to my satisfaction, of all such
corporate records, documents, agreements, and instruments relating to the
Company, and certificates of public officials and of representatives of the
Company, and have made such investigations of law, and have discussed with
representatives of the Company and such other persons such questions of fact, as
I have deemed proper and necessary as a basis for the rendering of this opinion.
 
    Based upon, and subject to, the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:
 
        (i) the Debt Securities, when duly executed by the Company,
    authenticated by the trustee pursuant to the terms of the related Indenture
    and sold in accordance with the terms set forth in the Registration
    Statement, will be duly authorized and legally issued and will constitute
    binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the related
    Indenture in accordance with their terms, subject as to their binding nature
    to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
    moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors' rights and remedies
    generally and subject to general principles of equity, including principles
    of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of
    whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in law or in equity); and
 
        (ii) the Common Stock registered pursuant to the Registration Statement,
    when issued and sold in accordance with the terms set forth in the
    Registration Statement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid
    and non-assessable.
 
        I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the
    Registration Statement. In giving the foregoing consent, I do not admit that
    I am in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
    the Act, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
    Commission promulgated thereunder.
 
                                          Very truly yours,
 
                                          /s/ Samuel Bergman