UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    Form 10-K

                  1. ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (d)

                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001   Commission File Number 2-39957 and
                          (current  number)   Commission File Number 33-58028

                        PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                   f/k/a PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                               SEPARATE ACCOUNT C
            (Exact Name of Registrant, as specified in its charter)



             Iowa                                           42-0127290
- -------------------------------               ----------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                  IRS Employer Identification No.
incorporation or organization)                (Principal Life Insurance Company)

The Principal Financial Group
Des Moines, Iowa                                             50392-0200
- -------------------------------                ---------------------------------
         (Address)                                           (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code         (515) 248-3842


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:


         Variable Contracts - Participating with Pooled Separate Account
                         Variable Benefits - HR-10 Plans
         ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Title of Class)

     Indicate  by check mark  whether the  registrant  (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                             Yes  ___X___      No _______

     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein,
and will not be contained,  to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive
proxy or information  statements  incorporated  by reference in Part III of this
Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]

     The Registrant has no voting stock.


                                     PART I


Item 1. Business

        The  Registrant  is  a  separate  account  established  under  the  Iowa
        insurance  laws and  regulations  as Principal  Life  Insurance  Company
        Separate  Account C on April 12, 1971,  pursuant to a resolution  of the
        Executive  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  Principal  Life
        Insurance  Company.  Principal Life Insurance  Company was  incorporated
        under Iowa law as a mutual life  insurance  company  named  Bankers Life
        Association.  It changed  its name to Bankers  Life  Company in 1911 and
        then to Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company in 1986. The name change
        to Principal LIfe  Insurance  Company and  reorganization  into a mutual
        holding company  structure took place in 1998. The account was formed to
        receive  payments  under  Principal  Life  Insurance  Company  Contracts
        designed  for use in  connection  with pension or profit  sharing  plans
        which qualify under the Self-Employed  Individuals Tax Retirement Act of
        1962, as amended  ("HR-10").  Principal  Life  Insurance  Company offers
        life, disability,  health and annuity contracts written on an individual
        and group basis.

        Pursuant to the Amendments enacted in 1970 to the Investment Company Act
        of 1940,  the Account is not an  investment  company for purposes of the
        Act.

        The objective of these  Contracts is to provide for the  accumulation of
        retirement  funds and to provide for  payments,  usually  commencing  at
        retirement,  which  tend to reflect  changes in the cost of living  both
        during the years prior to and the years  following the  commencement  of
        annuity payments.  With Bankers Flexible Annuity Contracts (Registration
        No. 2-39957),  Principal Life Insurance Company,  as a depositor for the
        Account,  seeks to accomplish  this  objective by investing the payments
        made under the Contracts in shares of Principal Variable Contracts Fund,
        Inc. - Capital Value Account (f/k/a Principal Capital Accumulation Fund,
        Inc.)  which  invests  principally  in common  stocks.  Similarly,  with
        Pension  Builder  Contracts  (Registration  No.  33-58028),  it seeks to
        accomplish this objective by investing  payments made under the Contract
        in three Divisions.  One is a "Common Stock Division" where payments are
        invested in shares of Principal  Variable Contracts Fund, Inc. - Capital
        Value Account.  Another is a "Money Market  Division" where payments are
        invested in  Principal  Variable  Contracts  Fund,  Inc., - Money Market
        Account  (f/k/a  Principal  Money Market Fund,  Inc.),  which invests in
        short-term money market instruments. The third Division is a "Government
        Securities  Division" where payments are invested in Principal  Variable
        Contracts Fund, Inc. - Government  Securities  Account (f/k/a  Principal
        Government  Securities Fund, Inc.),  which invests in obligations issued
        or guaranteed by the United States Government or its agencies. There may
        be a combination of investments in the three  Divisions,  as directed by
        Participants.

        Except for those Contracts described above with payments credited to the
        Registrant  (Principal Life Insurance  Company  Separate  Account C) and
        Variable  Annuity  Contracts and Variable Life Insurance  Contracts with
        payments credited to Principal Life Insurance Company Separate Account B
        and  Variable  Life   Separate   Account,   respectively,   the  Company
        distributes  its own products as permitted under the laws of the various
        jurisdictions in which the Company is authorized to do business,  namely
        the fifty states of the United  States,  the  District of Columbia,  the
        Commonwealth  of Puerto  Rico and the  Canadian  provinces  of  Alberta,
        British  Columbia,  Manitoba,  Ontario and Quebec.  Such distribution is
        through a field agency system of approximately 1045 full-time agents, a
        group insurance sales  organization of approximately 266 individuals and
        through a large number of independent insurance brokers.

        The Contracts  described above with payments  credited to the Registrant
        and  other  Variable  Annuity  Contracts  and  Variable  Life  Insurance
        Contracts   are   distributed   through   Princor   Financial   Services
        Corporation,  an affiliated  broker-dealer  offering open-end management
        investment company shares, variable annuities,  variable life insurance,
        interests in limited  partnerships and general securities to the public.
        Such Contracts are sold primarily by registered  representatives  of the
        broker-dealer  who are also insurance agents of or brokers for Principal
        Life Insurance Company and authorized by applicable law to sell life and
        other forms of personal  insurance and who are  similarly  authorized to
        sell variable  annuities.  Such Contracts may also be sold through other
        selected broker-dealers.

        The  Registration  Statement  filed by the Registrant was made effective
        September  13,  1971,  and the first  sale of Bankers  Flexible  Annuity
        Contracts occurred on October 8, 1971.  Effective January 4, 1989, sales
        of Bankers Flexible Annuity Contracts were discontinued.

        In 1982  the  Registrant  filed a  Registration  Statement  in File  No.
        2-78747,  to  register  a  new  class  of  securities  (called  "Pension
        Builder")  for the same  HR-10  plan  market  utilizing  the  contingent
        deferred sales charge  concept.  The  registration  for Pension  Builder
        contracts first became effective on May 5, 1983 and the first sale under
        the Pension Builder Contract was made on September 19, 1983.

        In 1989 the Registrant  filed a new  Registration  Statement in File No.
        33-27256  for the  contracts  in view of the fact that  aggregate  sales
        under  the  prior  registration   statement  approached  the  amount  of
        contracts  registered  thereunder.  The  contracts  offered  by the  new
        registration  statement are identical to contracts previously registered
        under the 1933 Act in File No. 2-78747.

        In 1993 the Registrant  filed a new  Registration  Statement in File No.
        33-58028  for the  contracts  in view of the fact that  aggregate  sales
        under  the  prior  registration   statement  approached  the  amount  of
        contracts  registered  thereunder.  The  contracts  offered  by the  new
        registration  statement are identical to contracts previously registered
        under the 1933 Act in File No. 33-27256.  Effective  September 30, 1995,
        sales of Pension Builder Contracts were discontinued.

Item 2. Properties

        The Registrant owns no physical properties.  The principal properties of
        the Depositor,  Principal Life  Insurance  Company,  are its home office
        complex at The Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, Iowa.


Item 3. Legal Proceedings

        None.


Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

        Inapplicable.


                                     PART II


Item 5. Market  for the  Registrant's  Common  Equity and  Related  Stockholder
        Matters

        a.    The  Registrant  does  not  issue  common  stock.   The  Contracts
              described in Item 1. are  distributed  through  Princor  Financial
              Services  Corporation,   an  affiliated   broker-dealer   offering
              open-end management investment company shares, variable annuities,
              variable life  insurance,  interests in limited  partnerships  and
              general  securities  to  the  public.   Such  Contracts  are  sold
              primarily by registered  representatives  of the broker-dealer who
              are  also  insurance  agents  of or  brokers  for  Principal  Life
              Insurance  Company and  authorized by applicable  law to sell life
              and  other  forms  of  personal  insurance  and who are  similarly
              authorized to sell variable annuities.  Such Contracts may also be
              sold through other selected broker-dealers.

              For Bankers Flexible Annuity Contracts  (Registration No. 2-39957)
              the high and low unit values for each quarterly period during 2000
              and 2001 are:

                                    Lowest Unit Value      Highest Unit Value
              First Quarter 2000       29.0662723              28.5818838
              Second  "     2000       30.1740744              28.8265762
              Third   "     2000       27.9917253              28.5325063
              Fourth  "     2000       27.4644119              29.2275660
              First   "     2001       25.5367558              29.4086271
              Second  "     2001       26.2071573              29.8454156
              Third   "     2001       23.3997283              28.3678286
              Fourth  "     2001       24.7707271              26.7602748

              For Pension Builder  Contracts  (Registration  No. 33-58028) units
              were first valued at $1.00 on  September  19, 1983 for the Capital
              Value Division f/k/a Common Stock Division, September 22, 1983 for
              the Money Market  Division  and March 30, 1987 for the  Government
              Securities Division. Listed below are the low and high unit values
              for each quarterly period during 2000 and 2001.

                                                                Government
                       Capital Value        Money Market         Securities
                          Division            Division            Division
                    ------------------- ------------------- -------------------
                      Lowest   Highest    Lowest    Highest   Lowest   Highest
                    --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

First Quarter 2000  5.6831195 5.5349559 1.9609123 2.0455166 2.1436620 2.1578413
Second  "     2000  5.8911639 5.5606528 1.9760268 2.0669305 2.1102814 2.1999721
Third   "     2000  5.4368687 5.4900413 1.9899396 2.0909730 2.0846646 2.2543731
Fourth  "     2000  5.3320720 5.6054033 2.0066813 2.1153717 2.1230148 2.3492361
First   "     2001  4.8860965 5.6329121 2.1164459 2.1367857 2.3521859 2.4058434
Second  "     2001  5.0126990 5.7009944 2.1373695 2.1517168 2.3816853 2.4202842
Third   "     2001  4.4543989 5.4124029 2.1521011 2.1608960 2.4041577 2.4993210
Fourth  "     2001  4.7140829 5.0802540 2.1611510 2.1646261 2.4652652 2.5295411

        b.    The approximate number of holders of record of each group contract
              and the  number of the  participants  therein as of  December  31,
              2001, are as follows:

                                        (1)                    (2)
                                  Number of Group           Number of
                                  Contract Holders         Participants
                                  ----------------         ------------
Bankers Flexible Annuity                 12                     12
Pension Builder                          26                     32

        c.    No dividends have been declared on units held by participants. Any
              changes  in net  investment  income,  net  realized  gains and net
              realized  appreciation  are included in the daily valuation of the
              units of the Registrant.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

        The information  contained in the "Statements of Net Assets,  Statements
        of Operations and Statements of Changes in Net Assets for Principal Life
        Insurance  Company  Separate Account C", filed as Item 8. should be read
        in conjunction with this item.

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
        of Operation

        All payments made to the  Registrant on behalf of a Participant  under a
        contract (less any authorized deductions) are used to purchase shares of
        Principal Variable  Contracts Fund, Inc. - Capital Value Account,  Money
        Market Account,  Inc., or Government Securities Account, as appropriate,
        at net asset value. In addition, any distributions made by the Fund with
        respect to shares held by the  Registrant  are reinvested by the Fund at
        net asset  value.  Values  under the  contract  increase  or decrease to
        reflect the investment performance of the underlying investments.

        Principal  Variable  Contracts  Fund,  Inc. is an  open-end  diversified
        management  investment  company,  sponsored by Principal  Life Insurance
        Company.  The  principal  objective  of the  Capital  Value  Account  is
        long-term capital  appreciation and growth of future investment  income.
        It is intended  that the assets of the Fund will consist  primarily of a
        portfolio of common  stocks.  The value of the  investments  held by the
        Fund fluctuates  daily. It is subject to the risks of changing  economic
        conditions  as  well  as  the  risks  inherent  in  the  ability  of the
        management  of the  Account to  anticipate  changes in such  investments
        necessary to meet changes in economic conditions.

        The principal objective of the Money Market Account is to seek as high a
        level of income  available from  short-term  securities as is considered
        consistent  with  preservation of principal and maintenance of liquidity
        by  investing  all  of  its  assets  in  a  portfolio  of  money  market
        instruments.

        The principal objective of the Government  Securities Account is to seek
        a high  level of  current  income,  liquidity  and  safety of  principal
        through the purchase of  obligations  issued or guaranteed by the United
        States Government or its agencies,  with emphasis on Government National
        Mortgage Association Certificates ("GNMA Certificates").

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

              Principal Life Insurance Company Separate Account C
                          Year Ended December 31, 2001






                        Principal Life Insurance Company
                               Separate Account C

                              Financial Statements

                          Year Ended December 31, 2001




                                    Contents

Report of Independent Auditors.................................................1

Audited Financial Statements

Statements of Assets and Liabilities...........................................2
Statements of Operations.......................................................3
Statements of Changes in Net Assets............................................4
Notes to Financial Statements..................................................5

                         Report of Independent Auditors

Board of Directors and Participants
Principal Life Insurance Company

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of each of
the divisions of Principal Life Insurance Company Separate Account C (comprised
of the Capital Value, Government Securities, and Money Market Divisions) as of
December 31, 2001, and the related statements of operations for the year then
ended, and changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then
ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the management of
Principal Life Insurance Company. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our
procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2001, by
correspondence with the transfer agent. An audit also includes assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well
as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of each of the divisions of
Principal Life Insurance Company Separate Account C at December 31, 2001, and
the results of their operations for the year then ended, and the changes in
their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Des Moines, Iowa
February 11, 2002






                        Principal Life Insurance Company
                               Separate Account C

                      Statements of Assets and Liabilities

                                December 31, 2001

                                                     Government
                                     Capital Value   Securities     Money Market
                                       Division       Division        Division
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------

Assets
Investments in shares of mutual funds
   at market                             $975,691        $15,136       $299,133

Liabilities                                     -              -              -
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------
Net assets                               $975,691        $15,136       $299,133
                                     ===========================================
                                     ===========================================

Net assets
Accumulation units                       $950,795        $15,136       $299,133
Contracts in annuitization period          24,896              -              -
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------
Total net assets                         $975,691        $15,136       $299,133
                                     ===========================================
                                     ===========================================

Investment in shares of mutual funds,
   at cost                               $929,135        $13,863       $299,133

Shares of mutual fund owned                35,122          1,307        299,133

Accumulation units outstanding:
   Bankers Flexible Annuity                19,829              -              -
   Pension Builders Plus                   83,728          6,092        138,248

Accumulation unit value:
   Bankers Flexible Annuity               $26.62           $  -           $  -
   Pension Builders Plus                    5.05           2.49           2.16

Annuitized units outstanding:
   Bankers Flexible Annuity                   431             -              -
   Pension Builders Plus                    2,658             -              -

Annuitized unit value:
   Bankers Flexible Annuity               $26.62           $  -           $  -
   Pension Builders Plus                    5.05              -              -

See accompanying notes.






                        Principal Life Insurance Company
                               Separate Account C

                            Statements of Operations

                          Year Ended December 31, 2001

                                                Capital    Government    Money
                                                 Value     Securities    Market
                                                Division    Division    Division
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               ---------------------------------
Investment income
Income:
   Dividends                                  $  11,864      $   962    $11,511

Expenses:
   Mortality and expense risks                    9,078          247      4,613
                                              ---------------------------------
Net investment income                             2,786          715      6,898

Realized gains on investments
Realized gains on sale of fund shares             5,258          529          -
Capital gains distributions                       4,675            -          -
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              ---------------------------------
Total realized gains on investments                              529          -

Change in net unrealized appreciation or
   depreciation of investments                 (103,788)        (206)         -
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              ---------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets         $ (91,069)      $1,038   $  6,898
   resulting from operations
                                               =================================

See accompanying notes.








                        Principal Life Insurance Company
                               Separate Account C

                       Statements of Changes in Net Assets

                            Capital Government Money
                             Value Securities Market
                           Division Division Division
                               ------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------
                               ------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------
                                   2001        2000         2001        2000          2001        2000
                               ------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------
                               ------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from operations:
     Net investment income
                                                                              
       (loss)                  $     2,786 $     9,575     $     715 $   (1,664)   $    6,898   $  12,288
     Net realized gains on
       investments                   5,258      36,743           529      4,011             -           -
     Capital gains
       distributions                 4,675           -             -          -             -           -
     Change in net unrealized
       appreciation or
       depreciation of
       investments                (103,788)    (44,146)         (206)     5,065             -           -
                               ------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------

Net increase (decrease) in
   net assets resulting
   from operations                 (91,069)      2,172         1,038      7,412         6,898      12,288
Changes from principal
   transactions:
     Premiums received from
       contractholders              52,215           -         2,690          -         8,063           -
     Administration charges         (2,525)          -          (228)         -        (1,415)          -
     Contract terminations          (2,787)   (387,842)       (4,612)   (37,035)            -           -
     Transfer payments to
       other contracts             (12,890)          -             -   (202,784)            -           -
     Annuity payments               (2,838)     (7,687)            -          -             -           -
                               ------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------
Increase (decrease) in net
   assets from principal
   transactions                     31,175    (395,529)       (2,150)  (239,819)        6,648           -
                               ------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------
                               ------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------
Total increase (decrease)          (59,894)   (393,357)       (1,112)  (232,407)       13,546      12,288

Net assets at beginning of
   period                        1,035,585   1,428,942        16,248    248,655       285,587     273,299
                               ------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------------
Net assets at end of period     $  975,691  $1,035,585       $15,136  $  16,248      $299,133    $285,587
                               ========================= ======================== =========================

See accompanying notes.





                        Principal Life Insurance Company
                               Separate Account C

                          Notes to Financial Statements

                                December 31, 2001

1. Investment and Accounting Policies

Principal Life Insurance Company Separate Account C (Separate Account C) was
organized by Principal Life Insurance Company (Principal Life) in accordance
with the provisions of the Iowa Insurance Laws and is a part of the total
operations of Principal Life. The assets and liabilities of Separate Account C
are clearly identified and distinguished from the other assets and liabilities
of Principal Life, with the remaining aggregate value of units registered with
the Securities and Exchange Commission under the current registration statement
(but not the authorized number of units) limited to $10.6 million. As directed
by eligible contractholders, Separate Account C invests solely in shares
representing interests in a corresponding investment option. As of December 31,
2001, the contractholder investment options consisted of the accounts of the
following diversified open-end management investment company, organized by
Principal Life: Principal Variable Contracts Fund, Inc. - Capital Value Account,
Government Securities Account and Money Market Account.

Investments are stated at the closing net asset values per share on December 31,
2001. The average cost method is used to determine realized gains and losses on
investments. Dividends are taken into income on an accrual basis as of the
ex-dividend date.

Separate Account C supports the following variable annuity contracts of
Principal Life: Bankers Flexible Annuity Contracts and Pension Builder Plus
Contracts. Contributions to Separate Account C are no longer accepted.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of Separate Account C's financial statements and accompanying
notes requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
amounts reported and disclosed. These estimates and assumptions could change in
the future as more information becomes known, which could impact the amounts
reported and disclosed in the financial statements and accompanying notes.

Change in Presentation

Separate Account C has presented the 2001 financial information in accordance
with the revised AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide for Investment Companies
effective January 1, 2001. The 2000 financial information has not been
reclassified.






2. Expenses

Principal Life is compensated for the following expenses:

   Bankers Flexible Annuity Contracts - Mortality and expense risks assumed by
   Principal Life are compensated for by a charge equivalent to an annual rate
   of 0.48% of the asset value of each contract. An annual administration charge
   of $7 for each participant's account is deducted as compensation for
   administrative expenses. The mortality and expense risk and annual
   administration charges amounted to $2,600 and $56, respectively, during the
   year ended December 31, 2001.

   Pension Builder Plus Contracts - Mortality and expense risks assumed by
   Principal Life are compensated for by a charge equivalent to an annual rate
   of 1.4965% of the asset value of each contract. A contingent sales charge of
   up to 7% may be deducted from withdrawals made during the first 10 years of a
   contract, except for death or permanent disability. An annual administration
   charge will be deducted ranging from a minimum of $25 to a maximum of $275
   depending upon a participant's investment account values and the number of
   participants under the retirement plan and their participant investment
   account value. The charges for mortality and expense risks, and annual
   administration amounted to $11,338 and $4,112, respectively, during the year
   ended December 31, 2001. There were no contingent sales charges during the
   year ended December 31, 2001.

In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2001, management fees were paid
indirectly to Principal Management Corporation, an affiliate of Principal Life
Insurance Company, in its capacity as advisor to Principal Variable Contracts
Fund, Inc. Investment advisory and management fees are computed based on average
daily net asset value. The fee is calculated at an annual rate of .60% of the
Capital Value Account, for the initial $250 million of net asset value,
decreasing by .05% for each incremental $250 million of net asset value with a
floor of .40%.

The fee for the Government Securities and Money Market Account is calculated at
an annual rate of .50% for the initial $100 million of net asset value,
decreasing by .05% for each incremental $100 million of net asset value with a
floor of .30%.






3. Federal Income Taxes

Operations of Separate Account C are a part of the operations of Principal Life.
Under current practice, no federal income taxes are allocated by Principal Life
to the operations of Separate Account C.

4. Purchases and Sales of Investments

The aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments were as
follows during the year ended December 31, 2001:

      Division                       Purchases           Sales
   -------------------------------------------------------------------------
   -------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Capital Value:
        Bankers Flexible Annuity       $24,772           $  5,263
        Pension Builder Plus           43,982            24,855

      Government Securities:
        Pension Builder Plus           3,652             5,087

      Money Market:
        Pension Builder Plus           19,330            5,784

Purchases include reinvested dividends and capital gains. Mortality adjustments
are included in purchases or redemptions, as applicable.

Money Market purchases include transactions where investment allocations are not
known at the time of the deposit. Sales reflect subsequent allocations to
directed investment divisions.







5. Changes in Units Outstanding

Transactions in units were as follows for each of the years ended December 31:

                                             2001                  2000
                                ------------------------------------------------
      Division                    Purchased    Redeemed   Purchased    Redeemed
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Capital Value:
        Bankers Flexible Annuity        609          96       -          4,324
        Pension Builder Plus          7,131       3,419       -         51,007
      Government Securities:
        Pension Builder Plus          1,087       1,927       -        109,478
      Money Market:
        Pension Builder Plus          3,727         661       -              -

6. Financial Highlights

Principal Life sells a number of variable annuity products, which have unique
combinations of features and fees that are charged against the contract owner's
account balance. Differences in the fee structures result in a variety of unit
values, expense ratios, and total returns.

Effective with these 2001 annual financial statements, Separate Account C has
presented the following disclosures required by the revised AICPA Audit and
Accounting Guide for Investment Companies. The following table was developed by
determining which products offered by Principal Life have the lowest and highest
total return. Only product designs within each subaccount that had units
outstanding during the respective periods were considered when determining the
lowest and highest total return. The summary may not reflect the minimum and
maximum contract charges offered by the Company as contract owners may not have
selected all available and applicable contract options as discussed in Note 2.






6. Financial Highlights (continued)



                           At December 31, 2001                    Year Ended December 31, 2001
                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Division      Units         Unit Value    Net        Investment   Expense Ratio     Total Return
                                 Lowest to     Assets                    Lowest to
                     (000s)       Highest       (000s)   Income Ratio*   Highest**   Lowest to Highest***
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                    
Capital Value         107     $5.05 to $26.62    $976         1.23%    .48% to 1.50%  (9.50%) to (8.49%)

Government
   Securities           6           2.49           15         5.91          1.50             6.41

Money Market          138           2.16          299         3.96          1.50             2.37


*    These amounts represent the dividends,  excluding  distributions of capital
     gains,  received by the division from the  underlying  mutual fund,  net of
     management  fees assessed by the fund  manager,  divided by the average net
     assets. These ratios exclude those expenses,  such as mortality and expense
     charges,  that  result  in  direct  reductions  in  the  unit  values.  The
     recognition of investment  income by the division is affected by the timing
     of the  declaration  of  dividends  by the  underlying  fund in  which  the
     divisions invest.

**   These ratios  represent the  annualized  contract  expenses of the separate
     account,  consisting  primarily of mortality and expense charges,  for each
     period  indicated.  The ratios include only those expenses that result in a
     direct  reduction to unit values.  Charges made directly to contract  owner
     accounts  through the  redemption  of units and expenses of the  underlying
     fund are excluded.

***  These  amounts  represent  the  total  return  to  the  periods  indicated,
     including  changes  in  the  value  of the  underlying  fund,  and  reflect
     deductions for all items  included in the expense  ratio.  The total return
     does not include any expenses  assessed  through the  redemption  of units;
     inclusion of these  expenses in the  calculation  would result in the total
     return presented.

9. Changes in and  Disagreements  with  Accountants  on Accounting and Financial
   Disclosure

         Inapplicable.


                                    PART III


Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

         Inapplicable,  the Registrant  does not have any directors or executive
         officers.


Item 11. Executive Compensation

         Inapplicable,  the Registrant  does not have any directors or executive
         officers.


Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

         No  person  owns  beneficially  or of  record  the  assets  held by the
         Depositor,  Principal Life Insurance Company,  in the Separate Account.
         As contractholders  of the variable  contracts each  contractholder has
         one vote in the election of the Board of  Directors at annual  meetings
         and upon other Principal Life Insurance Company matters,  if any, where
         a  policyholder's  vote is  taken.  The  contractholders  have the same
         voting  privilege  as do all  other  policyholders  of  Principal  Life
         Insurance Company. An individual participant  (certificateholder)  does
         not have a vote. There are no  policyholders  that are entitled to cast
         more than 5% of the votes to be cast.


Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

         Inapplicable.

                                     PART IV


Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K

         (a) Documents filed as part of this report:

             1. The following financial statements are submitted herewith:

                Statements of Net Assets -- December 31, 2001

                Statements of Operations -- Year ended December 31, 2001

                Statements of Changes in Net Assets -- Years ended  December 31,
                2001 and 2000.

                Notes to Financial Statements -- December 31, 2001

             2. Schedules - All other  schedules for which  provision is made in
                the  applicable  accounting  regulation  of the  Securities  and
                Exchange   Commission   are  not  required   under  the  related
                instructions  or  are  inapplicable,  and  therefore  have  been
                omitted.

             3. Exhibits:

                (20) Subsidiaries of the Registrant

                         Subsidiaries of the Registrant

The Registrant is a separate account of Principal Life Insurance Company. It has
no subsidiary. Principal Life Insurance Company, as the Depositor of the
Account, owns or controls, as of December 31, 2001, subsidiaries as follows:

     I.   Principal Holding Company

          A.   Organized in Iowa.

          B.   Depositor owns 100% of outstanding stock.

          C.   Subsidiaries  of  Principal  Holding  Company as of December  31,
               2001, are as follows:

               1.   Patrician  Associates,   Inc. - a  real  estate  development
                    company.

                    a.   Organized in California.

                    b.   Principal  Holding  Company  owns  100% of  outstanding
                         stock.

               2.   Petula Associates, Ltd. - a real estate development company.

                    a.   Organized in Iowa.

                    b.   Principal  Holding  Company  owns  100% of  outstanding
                         stock.

                    c.   Subsidiary of Petula Associates, Ltd. as of
                         December 31, 2001, is as follows:

                         (1) Petula Prolix Development Company (a general
                             business corporation involved in joint real estate
                             ventures).

                             (a) Organized in Iowa.

                             (b)  Petula Associates, LTD. owns 100% of
                                  outstanding stock.

               3.   Principal  Development  Associates,   Inc. - a  real  estate
                    development company.

                    a.   Organized in California.

                    b.   Principal  Holding  Company  owns  100% of  outstanding
                         stock.

               4.   Principal   Spectrum   Associates,   Inc.  - a  real  estate
                    development company.

                    a.   Organized in California.

                    b.   Principal  Holding  Company  owns  100% of  outstanding
                         stock.

               5.   Principal   FC,   Ltd.  - a   limited   purpose   investment
                    corporation.

                    a.   Organized in Iowa.

                    b.   Principal  Holding  Company  owns  100% of  outstanding
                         stock.

               6.   Equity  FC,  Ltd.  - a  general  business  corporation  that
                    engages  in  investment   transactions   including   limited
                    partnership and limited liability companies.

                    a.   Organized in Iowa.

                    b.   Principal  Holding  Company  owns  100% of  outstanding
                         stock.

               7.   HealthRisk   Resource  Group,   Inc. - a  general   business
                    corporation  engaged in providing managed care expertise and
                    administrative services to provider organizations.

                    a.   Organized in Iowa.

                    b.   Principal  Holding  Company  owns  100% of  outstanding
                         stock.

               8.   Principal  Residential   Mortgage,   Inc. - a  full  service
                    mortgage banking company.


                    a.   Organized in Iowa.

                    b.   Principal  Holding  Company  owns  100% of  outstanding
                         stock.

                    c.   Subsidiaries of Principal Residential Mortgage, Inc. as
                         of December 31, 2001, are as follows:

                         (1)  Principal Wholesale  Mortgage,  Inc. - a brokerage
                              and servicer of residential mortgages.

                             (a) Organized in Iowa.

                              (b)  Principal  Residential  Mortgage,  Inc.  owns
                                   100% of outstanding stock.

                         (2)  Principal   Mortgage   Reinsurance   Company  -  a
                              mortgage reinsurance company.

                              (a)  Organized in Vermont.

                              (b)  Principal  Residential  Mortgage,  Inc.  owns
                                   100% of outstanding stock.

                         (3)  Principal Residential Mortgage Funding, LLC - a
                              limited liability company.

                              (a)  Organized in Delaware.

                              (b)  Principal  Residential  Mortgage,  Inc.  owns
                                   100% of outstanding stock.

               10.  Principal Asset Markets,  Inc. - a residential mortgage loan
                    broker - currently inactive.

                    a.   Organized in Iowa.

                    b.   Principal  Holding  Company  owns  100% of  outstanding
                         stock.

               11.  Principal  Portfolio  Services,  Inc. - a corporation  which
                    provides mortgage diligence services.

                    a.   Organized in Iowa.

                    b.   Principal  Holding  Company  owns  100% of  outstanding
                         stock.

               12.  The Admar  Group,  Inc. - a  national managed  care  service
                    organization that develops and manages  preferred  provider
                    organizations (PPO's).

                    a.   Organized in Florida.

                    b.   Principal  Holding  Company  owns  100% of  outstanding
                         stock.

                    c.   Subsidiary of The Admar Group,  Inc. as of December 31,
                         2001, is as follows:

                         (1)  Admar   Corporation  - a  managed  care   services
                              organization.

                              (a)  Organized in California.

                              (b)  The   Admar   Group,   Inc.   owns   100%  of
                                   outstanding stock.

               13.  Principal  Bank - a  federally   chartered  direct  delivery
                    savings bank.

                    a.   Federally organized.

                    b.   Principal  Holding  Company  owns  100% of  outstanding
                         stock.

               14.  Principal  Health Care, Inc. - a developer and administrator
                    of health maintenance organizations HMO's.

                    a.   Organized in Iowa.

                    b.   Principal  Holding  Company  owns  100% of  outstanding
                         stock.

               15.  Dental-Net,   Inc.  - a   managed   dental   care   services
                    organization.

                    a.   Organized in Arizona.

                    b.   Principal  Holding  Company  owns  100% of  outstanding
                         stock.

                    c.   Subsidiary of Dental-Net, Inc. as of December 31, 2001,
                         is as follows:

                         (1)  Employers  Dental  Services,  Inc.  -  an  prepaid
                              dental plan organization.

                              (a)  Organized in Arizona.

                              (b)  Dental-Net, Inc. owns 100% outstanding stock.

               16.  Principal Financial Advisors, Inc. - a registered investment
                    advisor.

                    a.   Organized in Iowa.

                    b.   Principal  Holding  Company  owns  100% of  outstanding
                         stock.

               17.  Delaware Charter Guarantee & Trust Company (d/b/a Trustar
                    Retirement Services) - a corporation that administers
                    individual and group retirement plans.

                    a.   Organized in Delaware.

                    b.   Principal   Holding  Company  currently  owns  100%  of
                         outstanding stock.

               18.  Principal    Investors    Corporation  -  general   business
                    corporation - not currently active.

                    a.   Organized in New Jersey.

                    b.   Principal   Holding  Company  currently  owns  100%  of
                         outstanding stock.

               19.  Preferred Product Network, Inc. - an insurance broker which
                    markets select products.

                    a.   Organized in Delaware.

                    b.   Principal  Holding  Company  owns  100% of  outstanding
                         stock.

               20.  Professional  Pensions,  Inc.  - a  corporation  engaged  in
                    sales, marketing and administration of group insurance plans
                    and third  party  administration  for  defined  contribution
                    plans.

                    a.   Organized in Connecticut.

                    b.   Principal  Holding  Company  owns  100% of  outstanding
                         stock.

                    c.   Subsidiaries  of  Professional   Pensions,   Inc. as of
                         December 31, 2001, are as follows:

                         (1)  Benefit Fiduciary Corporation - a corporation
                              which services as a corporate trustee for
                              retirement funds.

                              (a)  Organized in Rhode Island.

                              (b)  The Professional Pensions,  Inc. owns 100% of
                                   outstanding stock.

                         (2)  PPI Employee Benefit Corporation - a registered
                              broker dealer, limited to the sale of open-end
                              mutual funds and variable insurance products.

                              (a)  Organized in Connecticut.

                              (b)  The Professional Pensions,  Inc. owns 100% of
                                   outstanding stock.

                         (3)  Boston Insurance Trust, Inc. - a corporation which
                              serves as trustee and  administrator  of insurance
                              trusts and arrangements.

                              (a)  Organized in Massachusetts.

                              (b)  The Professional Pensions,  Inc. owns 100% of
                                   outstanding stock.

               21.  Principal  Generation  Plant,  LLC  -  a  limited  liability
                    company that sales excess power.

                    a.   Organized in Delaware.

                    b.   Principal  Holding  Company  owns  100% of  outstanding
                         stock.

               22.  InSource Group, LLC - a limited liability company which is
                    an SEC Registered Investment Advisor.

                    a.   Organized in Delaware.

                    b.   Principal Holding Company owns 100% of outstanding
                         stock.

               23.  Principal Delaware Name Holding Company, Inc. - currently
                    inactive.

                    a.   Organized in Delaware.

                    b.   Principal Holding Company owns 100% of outstanding
                         stock.

     II.  Principal  Development Investors, LLC - a  limited liability  company.

          A.   Organized in Delaware.

          B.   Depositor owns 100% of the outstanding stock.

     III. Principal Capital  Management,  LLC - a limited liability company that
          provides investment management services.

          A.   Organized in Delaware.

          B.   Depositor owns 100% of the outstanding stock.

          C.   Subsidiaries of Principal Capital Management,  LLC as of December
               31, 2001, are as follows:

               1.   Principal  Enterprise Capital,  LLC  - a  limited  liability
                    company.

                    a.   Organized in Delaware.

                    b.   Principal Capital Management, LLC owns 100% outstanding
                         stock.

               2.   Principal Commercial Acceptance, LLC - a Delaware LLC.

                    a.   Organized in Delaware.

                    b.   Principal Capital Management, LLC owns 100% outstanding
                         stock.

               3.   Principal Capital Real Estate Investors,  LLC - a registered
                    investment advisor.

                    a.   Organized in Delaware.

                    b.   Principal Capital Management, LLC owns 100% outstanding
                         stock.

               4.   Principal Commercial Funding,  LLC - a correspondent  lender
                    and service provider for loans.

                    a.   Organized in Delaware.

                    b.   Principal Capital Management, LLC owns 100% outstanding
                         stock.

               5.   Principal  Capital  Income  Investors,  LLC  -  a limited
                    liability company.

                    a.   Organized in Delaware.

                    b.   Principal Capital Management, LLC owns 100% outstanding
                         stock.

               6.   Principal  Capital Futures Trading Advisor,  LLC - a limited
                    liability company.

                    a.   Organized in Delaware.

                    b.   Principal Capital Management, LLC owns 100% outstanding
                         stock.

               7.   Spectrum Asset Management, Inc. - a corporation specializing
                    in all aspects of the preferred market including portfolio
                    management.

                    a.   Organized in Connecticut.

                    b.   Principal Capital Management, LLC owns 80% of
                         outstanding stock.

               8.   Invista Capital Management, LLC - an investment advisor.

                    a.   Organized in Delaware.

                    b.   Principal Capital Management, LLC owns 100% of
                         outstanding stock.

                    c.   Subsidiary  of Invista  Capital  Management,  LLC is as
                         of December 31, 2001, is as follows:

                         (1)  Principal  Capital  Trust (a  business  trust  and
                              private investment company).

                              (a)  Organized in Delaware.

                              (b)  Invista Capital Management,  LLC owns 100% of
                                   outstanding shares.

     IV.  Principal Net Lease Investors, LLC - a limited liability company which
          operates as a buyer and seller of net leased investments.

          A.   Organized in Delaware.

          B.   Depositor owns 100% of the outstanding stock.

      V.  Executive Benefit Services, Inc.- marketing,  sales and administration
          of executive employee benefit services.

          A.   Organized in North Carolina.

          B.   Depositor owns 100% of the outstanding stock.

The  Depositor's  investment  in its  subsidiaries,  which in turn  includes the
subsidiary's  investment  in its  subsidiaries,  is  included  in the  financial
statements of the  Depositor.The  Depositor's  investment  in its  subsidiaries,
which in turn  includes the  subsidiary's  investment  in its  subsidiaries,  is
included in the financial statements of the Depositor.

                                   SIGNATURES


       Pursuant to the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934,  Principal Life Insurance Company has duly caused this report to be
signed on behalf of Principal Life Insurance  Company  Separate Account C by the
undersigned thereto duly authorized in the city of Des Moines and State of Iowa,
on the 28th day of March, 2002.

                             PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT C


                                       /s/J. B. Griswell
                             By ________________________________________________
                                Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Attest:

/s/ Joyce N. Hoffman
- -----------------------------------
Joyce N. Hoffman
Senior Vice President and
  Corporate Secretary


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has been signed below by the  following  persons on behalf of the  registrant in
the capacities with Principal Life Insurance Company and on the dates indicated.

Signature                          Title                           Date


/s/ J. B. Griswell             President, Chairman and         03/28/2002
- --------------------           Chief Executive Officer
J. B. Griswell


/s/ D. C. Cunningham           Vice President and              03/28/2002
- --------------------           Controller (Principal
D. C. Cunningham               Accounting Officer)



/s/ M. H. Gersie               Executive Vice President        03/28/2002
- --------------------           and Chief Financial Officer
M. H. Gersie                   (Principal Financial
                               Officer)


  (B. J. Bernard)*             Director                        03/28/2002
- --------------------
B. J. Bernard


  (J. Carter-Miller)*          Director                        03/28/2002
- --------------------
J. Carter-Miller


  (G. E. Costley)*             Director                        03/28/2002
- --------------------
G. E. Costley


  (D. J. Drury)*               Director                        03/28/2002
- --------------------
D. J. Drury


  (C. D. Gelatt, Jr.)*         Director                        03/28/2002
- --------------------
C. D. Gelatt, Jr.


  (S. L. Helton)*              Director                        03/28/2002
- --------------------
S. L. Helton


  (C. S. Johnson)*             Director                        03/28/2002
- --------------------
C. S. Johnson


  (W. T. Kerr)*                Director                        03/28/2002
- --------------------
W. T. Kerr


  (R. L. Keyser)*              Director                        03/28/2002
- --------------------
R. L. Keyser


  (V. H. Loewenstein)*         Director                        03/28/2002
- --------------------
V. H. Loewenstein


  (R. D. Pearson)*             Director                        03/28/2002
- --------------------
R. D. Pearson


  (F. F. Pena)*                Director                        03/28/2002
- --------------------
F. F. Pena


  (D. M. Stewart)*             Director                        03/28/2002
- --------------------
D. M. Stewart


  (E. E. Tallett)*             Director                        03/28/2002
- --------------------
E. E. Tallett



                           *By    /s/ J. Barry Griswell
                                  ------------------------------------
                                  J. Barry Griswell
                                  Chairman, President and
                                  Chief Executive Officer

                                  Pursuant to Powers of Attorney
                                  Previously Filed or Included Herein