<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 7
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JUL-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       598,466,176                       0
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        2,961,396                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          3,130,918                       0
<EQUITIES>                                  88,406,542                       0
<MORTGAGE>                                     864,425                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                1,825,940                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             858,025,786                       0
<CASH>                                       1,614,548                       0
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             993,884                       0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                     100,713,316                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             991,094,706                       0
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            428,013,959                       0
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                         95,105,346                       0
<POLICY-OTHER>                               8,982,837                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        7,034,576                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                             88,282,368                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                    41,891,512                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                 267,404,744                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               991,094,706                       0
<PREMIUMS>                                 250,149,744              84,460,691
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         40,433,481              13,959,538
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           5,207,103               2,358,009
<OTHER-INCOME>                               1,615,408                 565,567
<BENEFITS>                                 205,146,723              63,121,022
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                 37,574,852              13,016,938
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        22,077,872               7,294,687
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             32,606,289              17,911,158
<INCOME-TAX>                                 9,583,435               5,626,952
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         23,022,854              12,284,206
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                23,022,854              12,284,206
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .56                     .30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .56                     .30
<RESERVE-OPEN>                             110,368,715                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                        187,032,962                       0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                          (1,249,179)                       0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                         138,012,701                       0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            43,733,571                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            114,401,226                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0
        

</TABLE>