<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                   7
<CIK>                       0000018508
<NAME>                      Foremost Corporation of America
<MULTIPLIER>                1,000
<CURRENCY>                  US Dollars

       
<S>                         <C>          <C>          <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      Year         Year         Year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>           Dec-31-1997  Dec-31-1996  Dec-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>               Jan-1-1997   Jan-1-1996   Jan-1-1995
<PERIOD-END>                Dec-31-1997  Dec-31-1996  Dec-31-1995
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                       1            1            1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>            376,868      339,860      372,210
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>             1,974        2,342        7,511
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>               1,989        2,341        7,591
<EQUITIES>                       83,677       93,485       66,084
<MORTGAGE>                       12,350       12,222       13,735
<REAL-ESTATE>                    11,920       15,169       19,140
<TOTAL-INVEST>                  513,445      493,824      520,161
<CASH>                            2,409        5,141        5,184
<RECOVER-REINSURE>               20,645       21,416       23,342
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>           74,179       70,231       74,052
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  744,780      721,578      758,494
<POLICY-LOSSES>                  82,722       93,420       97,504
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>             246,429      241,313      251,630
<POLICY-OTHER>                        0            0            0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                 0            0            0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                  92,201       94,851       99,247
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                 0            0            0
<PREFERRED>                           0            0            0
<COMMON>                         32,467       14,000       14,000
<OTHER-SE>                      222,984      217,422      230,197
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>    744,780      721,578      758,494
<PREMIUMS>                      429,210      427,565      448,079
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>              25,813       27,116       29,344
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>               12,181        3,098          369
<OTHER-INCOME>                    2,552        3,347        3,386
<BENEFITS>                      244,608      276,175      259,133
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>     125,760      122,795      130,457
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                  0            0            0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                  70,893       28,864       63,548
<INCOME-TAX>                    (20,137)       5,696       18,223
<INCOME-CONTINUING>              50,756       23,168       45,325
<DISCONTINUED>                      110          361            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                       0            0            0
<CHANGES>                             0            0            0
<NET-INCOME>                     50,866       23,529       45,325
<EPS-PRIMARY>                      1.82         0.80         1.48
<EPS-DILUTED>                      1.79         0.78         1.46
<RESERVE-OPEN>                   93,420       93,771       92,338
<PROVISION-CURRENT>             239,724      277,298      256,568
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                 4,884       (1,123)       2,565
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>              193,582      223,518      202,068
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                 61,298       51,349       54,308
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                  82,722       93,420       97,504
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>               0            0            0

<FN>
     Prior periods are presented to reflect the restatement of diluted earings
per share data as the result of adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board
Statement No. 128, "Earnings Per Share".
</FN>
        

</TABLE>