EXHIBIT 5


                                 April 24, 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 am rendering this opinion in connection with
the Registration Statement on Form S-8 with exhibits thereto (the "Registration
Statement") filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and the rules and regulations thereunder, relating to the registration of 50,000
shares of common stock, par value $.10 per share (the "Shares"), of the Company.
The Shares are to be issued by the Company pursuant to the Company's Director
Stock Ownership Plan (the "Plan").

      I have participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement and
have reviewed the corporate minutes relating to the issuance of the Shares
pursuant to the Plan and 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 rendering this opinion.

      Based upon, and subject to, the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the
Shares are duly authorized and, upon issuance of the Shares in accordance with
the terms of the Plan, will be, assuming no change in the applicable law or
pertinent facts, 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
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

                                Very truly yours,


                               /s/ Samuel Bergman