<TABLE> <S> <C>


 <ARTICLE>                                      7
 <CIK>                                          0000018508
 <NAME>                                         Foremost Corporation of America
 <MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
 <CURRENCY>                                     US Dollars
        
 <S>                                            <C>
 <PERIOD-TYPE>                                  6-Mos
 <FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Dec-31-1997
 <PERIOD-START>                                 Jan-01-1997
 <PERIOD-END>                                   Jun-30-1997
 <EXCHANGE-RATE>                                       1
 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            345,619
 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                             2,267
 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                               2,272    
 <EQUITIES>                                       88,016
 <MORTGAGE>                                       11,956
 <REAL-ESTATE>                                    14,986
 <TOTAL-INVEST>                                  487,617
 <CASH>                                            2,291
 <RECOVER-REINSURE>                               22,188
 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           76,040
 <TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  720,020
 <POLICY-LOSSES>                                  87,395
 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             253,862
 <POLICY-OTHER>                                        0
 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                 0
 <NOTES-PAYABLE>                                  99,263
 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0
 <PREFERRED>                                           0
 <COMMON>                                         14,000
 <OTHER-SE>                                      209,997
 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    720,020
 <PREMIUMS>                                      213,536
 <INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              12,603
 <INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                6,950
 <OTHER-INCOME>                                    1,222
 <BENEFITS>                                      133,399
 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      61,863
 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                             14,557
 <INCOME-PRETAX>                                  24,492
 <INCOME-TAX>                                     (6,223)
 <INCOME-CONTINUING>                              18,269
 <DISCONTINUED>                                       90
 <EXTRAORDINARY>                                       0
 <CHANGES>                                             0
 <NET-INCOME>                                     18,359
 <EPS-PRIMARY>                                      1.96
 <EPS-DILUTED>                                      1.96
 <RESERVE-OPEN>                                   93,519
 <PROVISION-CURRENT>                             129,595
 <PROVISION-PRIOR>                                 3,803
 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                               90,925
 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                 48,597
 <RESERVE-CLOSE>                                  87,395
 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                               0
         

 
</TABLE>