<TABLE> <S> <C>

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

       

<S>                         <C>          <C>          <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     3-Mos        6-Mos        9-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>           Dec-31-1996  Dec-31-1996  Dec-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>              Jan-01-1996  Jan-01-1996  Jan-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                Mar-31-1996  Jun-30-1996  Sep-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                       1            1            1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>            379,770      348,281      325,997
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>             7,481        7,089        2,878
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>               7,527        7,109        2,864
<EQUITIES>                       79,518       83,974       95,244
<MORTGAGE>                       12,487       12,586       12,295
<REAL-ESTATE>                    15,453       15,159       15,168
<TOTAL-INVEST>                  509,517      503,574      489,634
<CASH>                            2,132        3,167        4,147
<RECOVER-REINSURE>               23,707       28,173       28,281
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>           73,829       72,697       73,407
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  745,486      743,427      730,742
<POLICY-LOSSES>                  98,914       91,390       90,127
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>             249,671      254,365      257,951
<POLICY-OTHER>                        0            0            0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                 0            0            0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                  96,851       96,264       95,663
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                 0            0            0
<PREFERRED>                           0            0            0
<COMMON>                         14,000       14,000       14,000
<OTHER-SE>                      222,541      221,650      214,096
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>    745,486      743,427      730,742
<PREMIUMS>                      112,112      213,455      320,885
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>               7,344       13,429       20,269
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                  769        2,170        2,253
<OTHER-INCOME>                      566        1,684        2,388
<BENEFITS>                       83,589      144,386      211,723
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>      31,965       61,251       91,229
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                  0            0            0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                  (2,054)      10,331       20,729
<INCOME-TAX>                      1,970        1,503        4,019
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                 (84)       8,828       16,710
<DISCONTINUED>                        0          383          383
<EXTRAORDINARY>                       0            0            0
<CHANGES>                             0            0            0
<NET-INCOME>                        (84)       9,211       17,093
<EPS-PRIMARY>                     (0.00)        0.31         0.57
<EPS-DILUTED>                     (0.00)        0.30         0.56
<RESERVE-OPEN>                   97,504       93,771       93,771
<PROVISION-CURRENT>              84,467      135,681      200,400
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                  (878)         230         (705)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>               50,559       98,462      155,862
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                 30,679       38,889       45,516
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                  98,914            0       90,127
<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>