<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                      7
<CIK>                                          0000018508
<NAME>                                         Foremost Corporation of America
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     US Dollars
       
<S>                                                                 <C>  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                             9-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   Dec-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                                      Jan-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                        Sep-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                               1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                                    325,997
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                                     2,878
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                                       2,864
<EQUITIES>                                                               95,244
<MORTGAGE>                                                               12,295
<REAL-ESTATE>                                                            15,168
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                                          489,634
<CASH>                                                                    4,147
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                                       28,281
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                                   73,407
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                          730,742
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                                          90,127
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                                     257,951
<POLICY-OTHER>                                                                0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                                         0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                          95,663
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                                 14,000
<OTHER-SE>                                                              214,096
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                            730,742
<PREMIUMS>                                                              320,885
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                      20,269
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                                        2,253
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                            2,388
<BENEFITS>                                                              211,723
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                                              91,229
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                                          0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                          20,729
<INCOME-TAX>                                                              4,019
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                      16,710
<DISCONTINUED>                                                              383
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                                             17,093
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                              1.72
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                              1.72
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                                           93,771
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                                     200,400
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                                          (705)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                                      155,862
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                                         45,516
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                                          90,127
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                                       0
        

 
</TABLE>