<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                                                 7
<LEGEND>   THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF FOREMOST CORPORATION OF AMERICA FOR THE
PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                          1,000
<CURRENCY>                                                     U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                                                            <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                         9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                  JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                    SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                           1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                                363,965
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                                   982
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                                   1,017
<EQUITIES>                                                           79,506
<MORTGAGE>                                                           12,137
<REAL-ESTATE>                                                        12,340
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                                      501,736
<CASH>                                                                1,610
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                                   23,377
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                               77,386
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                      760,875
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                                      89,065
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                                 262,794
<POLICY-OTHER>                                                            0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                                     0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                      91,649
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                               0
<COMMON>                                                             27,233
<OTHER-SE>                                                          228,074
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                        760,875
<PREMIUMS>                                                          326,483
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                  18,283
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                                    5,871
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                        1,792
<BENEFITS>                                                          192,467
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                                          96,193
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                                 20,134
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                      43,635
<INCOME-TAX>                                                       (11,113)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                  32,522
<DISCONTINUED>                                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                     (3,310)
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                         29,212
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                          1.07
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                          1.04
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                                       82,722
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                                 194,747
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                                   (2,281)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                                  149,242
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                                     36,952
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                                      89,065
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                                   0
        


</TABLE>