<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     7
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF INCOME AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<CIK>     0000841528
<NAME>    ReliaStar Financial Corp.
       
<S>                                               <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                             3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                       JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                         MAR-31-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                               9,212,400,000
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                                          0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                                            0
<EQUITIES>                                                            25,100,000
<MORTGAGE>                                                         1,859,100,000
<REAL-ESTATE>                                                         76,900,000
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                                    11,920,600,000
<CASH>                                                                19,900,000
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                                   209,800,000
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                             1,064,700,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    16,933,900,000
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                                   11,400,500,000
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                                            0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                                       292,700,000
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                                209,000,000
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                      449,100,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                121,000,000
<PREFERRED>                                                                    0
<COMMON>                                                             578,900,000
<OTHER-SE>                                                           805,400,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                      16,933,900,000
<PREMIUMS>                                                           204,700,000
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                                  234,700,000
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                                     2,200,000
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                       121,600,000
<BENEFITS>                                                           317,500,000
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                                           21,900,000
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                                 121,400,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                       81,400,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                                          28,400,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                   51,300,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                                          51,300,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                               1.26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               1.26
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                                                 0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                                            0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                                              0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                                             0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                                               0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                                                0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                                        0
        

</TABLE>