<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 7

<S>                                        <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                6-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000             DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000             APR-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000             JUN-30-2000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       891,427,943                       0
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                          860,702                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                            897,772                       0
<EQUITIES>                                 115,802,344                       0
<MORTGAGE>                                     271,927                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                2,006,312                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                           1,267,097,143                       0
<CASH>                                       6,691,685                       0
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                           3,238,801                       0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                     145,555,835                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,466,446,054                       0
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            634,499,731                       0
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                        126,099,191                       0
<POLICY-OTHER>                               9,822,724                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        5,618,139                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                            151,085,961                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                    41,891,512                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                 386,309,615                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             1,466,446,054                       0
<PREMIUMS>                                 212,211,784             106,724,888
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         34,690,547              17,558,717
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           5,618,755               4,752,791
<OTHER-INCOME>                               1,549,446                 747,330
<BENEFITS>                                 147,803,313              72,706,862
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                 32,002,272              16,749,561
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        21,694,494              10,819,553
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             52,570,453              29,507,750
<INCOME-TAX>                                15,385,024               8,672,496
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         37,185,429              20,835,254
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                37,185,429              20,835,254
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .95                     .53
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .94                     .53
<RESERVE-OPEN>                             146,439,100                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                        139,610,522                       0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                           (9,336,102)                      0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                          97,371,102                       0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            32,227,655                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            148,225,477                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0


</TABLE>