<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-31-1998
 <PERIOD-START>                                                    Jan-01-1998
 <PERIOD-END>                                                      Jun-30-1998
 <EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                             1
 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                                  376,858
 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                                   1,017
 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                                     1,046
 <EQUITIES>                                                             84,719
 <MORTGAGE>                                                             12,216
 <REAL-ESTATE>                                                          12,247
 <TOTAL-INVEST>                                                        504,399
 <CASH>                                                                  1,960
 <RECOVER-REINSURE>                                                     22,730
 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                                 75,762
 <TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                        753,279
 <POLICY-LOSSES>                                                        89,621
 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                                   255,977
 <POLICY-OTHER>                                                              0
 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                                       0
 <NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                        97,944
 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                       0
 <PREFERRED>                                                                 0
 <COMMON>                                                               27,244
 <OTHER-SE>                                                            225,311
 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                          753,279
 <PREMIUMS>                                                            216,810
 <INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                    12,154
 <INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                                      4,043
 <OTHER-INCOME>                                                          1,289
 <BENEFITS>                                                            129,403
 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                                            64,212
 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                                   13,386
 <INCOME-PRETAX>                                                        27,295
 <INCOME-TAX>                                                           (6,620)
 <INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                    20,675
 <DISCONTINUED>                                                              0
 <EXTRAORDINARY>                                                        (3,310)
 <CHANGES>                                                                   0
 <NET-INCOME>                                                           17,365
 <EPS-PRIMARY>                                                            0.63
 <EPS-DILUTED>                                                            0.62
 <RESERVE-OPEN>                                                         82,722
 <PROVISION-CURRENT>                                                   130,116
 <PROVISION-PRIOR>                                                        (713)
 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                                     92,183
 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                                       30,372
 <RESERVE-CLOSE>                                                        89,621
 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                                     0
         

 
</TABLE>