<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                        7
<CIK>                            0000018508
<NAME>                           Foremost Corporation of America
<MULTIPLIER>                     1,000
<CURRENCY>                       US Dollars
       
<S>                              <C> 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    Year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                Dec-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                   Jan-1-1996
<PERIOD-END>                     Dec-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                  1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                       339,860
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                        2,342
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                          2,341
<EQUITIES>                                                  93,485
<MORTGAGE>                                                  12,222
<REAL-ESTATE>                                               15,169
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                             493,824
<CASH>                                                       5,141
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                          21,416
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                      70,231
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                             721,578
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                             93,420
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                        241,313
<POLICY-OTHER>                                                   0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                            0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                             94,851
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                            0
<PREFERRED>                                                      0
<COMMON>                                                    14,000
<OTHER-SE>                                                 217,422
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                               721,578
<PREMIUMS>                                                 427,565
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                         27,116
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                           3,098
<OTHER-INCOME>                                               3,347
<BENEFITS>                                                 276,175
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                                122,795
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                             28,864
<INCOME-TAX>                                                 5,696
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                         23,168
<DISCONTINUED>                                                 361
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                  0
<CHANGES>                                                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                                23,529
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                 2.39
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                 2.39
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                              93,771
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                        277,298
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                          (1,123)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                         223,518
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                            51,349
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                             93,420
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                          0
        

</TABLE>