<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM 9/30/95,
12/31/95 AND 8/30/96 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONDENSED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
9/30/95, 12/31/95, AND 9/30/96 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1995
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            36,564                  58,595
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                           23,530                  29,522
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                             23,172                  29,061
<EQUITIES>                                           0                       0
<MORTGAGE>                                           0                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  60,094                  88,117
<CASH>                                           9,084                  16,218
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              87,670                 130,187
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          14,670                  18,816
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 265,310                 350,014
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                123,203                 138,190
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             65,996                  78,282
<POLICY-OTHER>                                   1,180                  17,441
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                              751                  15,895
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 13,250                  11,250
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            1,629                   1,629
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                            71                      71
<OTHER-SE>                                      47,035                  71,234
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   265,310                 350,014
<PREMIUMS>                                      93,965                  72,415
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              3,478                   4,161
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  52                     458
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     172                     507
<BENEFITS>                                      66,255                  45,594
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     36,845                  23,614
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            36,342                  29,353
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (6,267)                   7,600
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (1,800)                   2,358
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (4,467)                   5,242
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (4,467)                   5,242
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.64)                     .73
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.64)                     .73
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                  57,852                  50,451
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                             23,652                  13,570
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                               30,271                  18,565
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                              32,160                  21,562
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                38,023                  42,348
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                 53,923                  32,135
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                       (10,442)                (10,462)
        

</TABLE>