_______________________________________________________________________________


                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C. 20549
                                ___________


                                 FORM 10-Q

                                ___________

          |X| Quarterly Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                    the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

               For the quarterly period ended March 31, 1997

                                    OR

         |_| Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                    the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                ___________

                       Commission File Number 0-3722


                       ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
         Incorporated pursuant to the laws of the State of Georgia

                                ___________

          Internal Revenue Service-- Employer Identification No.
                                58-1027114


                  Address of Principal Executive Offices:
             4370 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30319
                              (404) 266-5500


Indicate by check mark whether  registrant (1) has filed all reports required to
be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days. YES |X| NO |_|

The total  number of shares of the  registrant's  Common  Stock,  $1 par  value,
outstanding on May 7, 1997, was 18,644,327.

________________________________________________________________________________


                        ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION

                                    INDEX


Part 1.  Financial Information                                     Page No.

Item 1.  Financial Statements:


         Consolidated Balance Sheets -
         December 31, 1996 and March 31, 1997                         2


         Consolidated Statements of Operations -
         Three months ended March 31,1996 and 1997                    3


         Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -
         Three months ended March 31, 1996 and 1997                   4


         Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                   5


Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of  Financial         6 - 8
         Condition and Results of Operations



Part II.  Other Information


Item 6.  Exhibits and report on Form 8-K                              9


Signature                                                             10


                           PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.  Financial Statements.

                   ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                            CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                       ASSETS

(In thousands, except share and per share data)
                                                         March 31,  December 31,
                                                          1997          1996
                                                         ---------   ---------
                                                         
  Cash, including short-term investments of             
     $40,301 and $41,614                                 $ 44,641     $ 45,499
                                                         -----------------------
  Investments:
     Bonds (Cost: $97,090 and $91,611)                     95,807       91,310
     Common and preferred stocks (cost:        
        $18,597 and$19,748)                                35,723       37,762
     Mortgage loans                                         6,752        6,812
     Policy and student loans                               3,030        6,555
     Real estate                                               46           46
                                                         -----------------------
        Total investments                                 141,358      142,485
                                                         -----------------------
  Receivables:
     Reinsurance                                           27,111       26,854
     Other (net of allowance for bad debts:  
        $1,041 and $1,151)                                 30,527       16,301
  Deferred acquisition costs                               15,257       15,179
  Other assets                                              4,239        4,576
  Goodwill                                                  2,063        2,100
                                                         -----------------------
        Total assets                                     $265,196     $252,994
                                                         =======================

                        LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

  Insurance reserves and policy funds:
     Future policy benefits                              $ 36,072     $ 36,385
     Unearned premiums                                     36,873       25,100
     Losses and claims                                     85,757       84,074
     Other policy liabilities                               3,882        3,639
                                                         -----------------------
        Total policy liabilities                          162,584      149,198
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses                     9,208        9,049
  Debt payable (due to affiliates:  $1,058 and 
     $1,058)                                               34,611       35,611
                                                         -----------------------
         Total liabilities                                206,403      193,858
                                                         -----------------------

Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity:
    Preferred stock, $1 par, 4,000,000 shares authorized;
       Series A preferred, 30,000 shares issued and
          outstanding, $3,000 redemption value                 30          30
       Series B preferred, 134,000 shares issued and         
          outstanding, $13,400 redemption value               134         134
    Common stock, $1 par, 30,000,000 shares authorized;
       18,712,167 shares issued in 1997 and 1996; 
       18,674,732 shares outstanding in 1997 and 
       18,684,217 shares outstanding in 1996               18,712       18,712
    Additional paid-in capital                             53,682       54,062
    Accumulated deficit                                   (29,490)     (31,426)
    Net unrealized investment gains                        15,843       17,713
    Treasury stock, at cost, 37,435 shares in 1997         
       and 27,950 shares in 1996                             (118)         (89)
                                                         -----------------------
         Total shareholders' equity                        58,793       59,136
                                                         -----------------------
            Total liabilities and shareholders' equity   $265,196     $252,994
                                                         =======================

                  The accompanying notes are an integral part
                  of these consolidated financial statements.

                                        -2-

                      ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                          CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
 
                                                    Three Months Ended
                                                         March 31,    
                                                    -------------------
In thousands, except per share data) 
                                                     1997       1996
                                                    ------     ------
 
Revenue:
  Insurance premiums                                $21,775    $21,385   
  Investment income                                   2,875      2,680
 Realized investment gains, net                          39        670
  Other income                                            2         38
                                                    ------------------
      Total revenue                                  24,691     24,773
                                                    ------------------

Benefits and expenses:
  Insurance benefits and losses incurred             14,532     14,089
  Commissions and underwriting expenses               6,044      6,392
  Interest expense                                      733        923
  Other                                               1,404      1,392
                                                    ------------------
      Total benefits and expenses                    22,713     22,796
                                                    ------------------

Income before income tax expense                      1,978      1,977
Income tax expense                                       40         -
                                                    ------------------

              Net income                            $ 1,938    $ 1,977
                                                    ==================

Net income per common share                         $  0.08    $  0.08
                                                    ==================

Weighted average common shares outstanding           18,873     18,808
                                                    ==================






















                  The accompanying notes are an integral part
                  of these consolidated financial statements.

                                             -3-



                 ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


                                                          Three Months Ended
                                                               March 31,
                                                         ---------------------
                                                            1997        1996
                                                            ----        ----
(In thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

   Net income                                             $  1,938   $  1,977
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net 
      cash used by operating activities:
      Amortization of deferred acquisition costs             2,143        864
      Acquisition costs deferred                            (2,221)    (1,316)
      Realized investment gains                                (39)      (670)
      Increase in insurance reserves                        13,386     13,263
      Depreciation and amortization                            269        280
      Increase in receivables, net                         (14,327)   (13,906)
      Decrease in other liabilities                         (2,343)    (1,644)
      Other, net                                               311       (762)
                                                         ---------------------
         Net cash used by operating activities                (883)    (1,914)
                                                         ---------------------

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

   Proceeds from investments sold or matured                17,342     34,769
   Investments purchased                                   (15,943)   (21,254)
   Reduction in minority interest liability payable            (46)        -
   Additions to property and equipment                        (192)      (224)
                                                         ---------------------
         Net cash provided by investing activities           1,161     13,291
                                                         ---------------------

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
   Preferred stock dividends                                   (79)       (79)
   Proceeds from exercise of stock options                       3          9
   Purchase of treasury shares                                 (60)       (22)
   Repayments of debt                                       (1,000)        -
                                                         ---------------------
         Net cash used by financing activities              (1,136)       (92)
                                                         ---------------------

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents          (858)    11,285

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period            45,499     15,069
                                                         ---------------------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                $ 44,641   $ 26,354
                                                         =====================


SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

   Cash paid for interest                                 $    621   $    642
                                                         =====================

   Cash paid for income taxes                             $     25   $     -
                                                         =====================








                 The accompanying notes are an integral part of
                    these consolidated financial statements.

                                           -4-


                          CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                 (In thousands)


Note 1.     Basis of presentation.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim
financial  information and with the  instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of
Regulation  S-X.  Accordingly,  they do not include all of the  information  and
footnotes  required by generally  accepted  accounting  principles  for complete
financial statements. In the opinion of management,  all adjustments (consisting
of normal recurring accruals)  considered necessary for a fair presentation have
been included. All significant  intercompany accounts and transactions have been
eliminated in consolidation.  Operating results for the three month period ended
March 31,  1997,  are not  necessarily  indicative  of the  results  that may be
expected for the year ending December 31, 1997. For further  information,  refer
to the  financial  statements  and footnotes  thereto  included in the Company's
annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996.




































                                           -5-

         MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
                              RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Management's discussion of financial condition and results of operations for the
periods  ended  March 31,  1997 and 1996  analyzes  the  results of  operations,
consolidated  financial  condition,  liquidity and capital resources of Atlantic
American Corporation (the "Company") and its consolidated subsidiaries:  Georgia
Casualty & Surety Company  ("Georgia  Casualty"),  American  Southern  Insurance
Company ("American  Southern" and together with Georgia Casualty,  the "Casualty
Division"),  and Bankers  Fidelity Life Insurance  Company (the "Life and Health
Division"). Effective January 1, 1997, Atlantic American Life Insurance Company,
a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of the  Company,  was merged with and into  Bankers
Fidelity Life Insurance Company.

Atlantic  American  Corporation's  net income for the first  quarter of 1997 was
$1.9 million  ($.08 per share)  compared to net income of $2.0 million ($.08 per
share)  for the first  quarter  of 1996.  The  slight  decline in net income was
attributable  to a provision  of $40,000 in  alternative  minimum  taxes for the
first  quarter  of  1997  whereas  no  alternative  minimum  tax  provision  was
established for the first quarter of 1996.

Georgia  Casualty  earned  $568,000  in the first  quarter of 1997  compared  to
$717,000 in 1996. This decline in earnings was mainly the result of decreases of
$347,000 in premiums and $210,000 in realized  investment  gains.  However these
declines in income were offset by lower  benefit and loss  expenses,  which were
reduced by $479,000 from 1996.  American Southern earned $1.5 million in each of
the first quarters of 1997 and 1996.  Earned  premiums rose by $718,000 but were
offset by increased benefit and loss expenses; therefore these increases did not
affect  operating  income.  The Life and Health  Division earned $510,000 in the
first quarter of 1997 compared to $565,000 in 1996.  First quarter 1997 earnings
were  lower  than  those for the same  period  in 1996  primarily  because  of a
$281,000 decrease in realized  investment  gains,  offset by a decrease in total
expenses of $149,000.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Total  revenue for the Company was $24.7  million for the first  quarter of 1997
compared to $24.8  million in the first quarter of 1996,  falling  mainly from a
decline in realized  investment  gains of $631,000  combined  with a decrease in
other income of $36,000.  Increases of $390,000 in earned  premiums and $196,000
in investment income offset these declines.

Insurance premiums rose primarily due to American Southern's  increased premiums
of  $718,000  and a marginal  increase in Life and Health  Division  premiums of
$19,000.  These  increases  were  offset by a decline  of  $347,000  in  Georgia
Casualty's  earned  premiums.  The Company's  increase in premiums was mainly in
American Southern's automobile line of business.  The Life and Health Division's
increased  premiums were primarily in the life line of business,  where premiums
increased  $118,000,  while accident and health premiums declined  $99,000.  The
decline in accident and health  premiums  represents a decrease in all lines but
particularly in the hospital line where premiums dropped 32% from 1996. Overall,
the Life and Health  Division  continues to experience a decline in accident and
health  premiums  as  a  result  of  management's  decision  to  market  a  more
diversified  product  mix  with  greater  emphasis  on life  insurance.  Georgia
Casualty's  premiums  fell mainly due to a 22% decline in workers'  compensation
premiums,  the effect of a soft market that resulted in the need for lower rates
on renewal business.

American  Southern  acts  as a  reinsurer  with  respect  to all  of  the  risks
associated with certain  automobile  policies  issued by a state  administrative
agency  naming the state and various  local  governmental  entities as insureds.
Premiums written from such policies  constituted between 38% and 32% of American
Southern's gross premiums written in 1992 through 1996. This account is eligible
for renewal in February 1998, and management believes that its relationship with
such agency is good. However, the loss of such agency as a customer could have a
material adverse effect on the business or financial condition of the company.

The  increase  in  investment  income of  $196,000  was  principally  due to the
increase in funds available for investment. Management has continued to focus on
increasing  the Company's  investments  in short and medium  maturity  bonds and
government  backed  securities.  The  carrying  value  of  funds  available  for
investment (which includes cash and short-term investments, bonds and common and
preferred stocks) at March 31, 1997, increased approximately $1.6 million mainly
due to acquisitions of government  bonds totaling $5.0 million while  short-term
investments and stocks declined by $1.3 million and $2.0 million, respectively.

                                      -6-


Realized investment gains for the first quarter of 1997 were $39,000 compared to
$670,000 for the same period in 1996.  The reason for the decline was  primarily
due to a market downturn,  which resulted in a determination to hold investments
rather than sell at the depressed market prices.

Insurance  benefits and losses incurred  increased  slightly to $14.5 million in
the first  quarter of 1997 from $14.1  million in 1996.  This  increase  was the
result of a $477,000  increase in the  Casualty  Division's  benefits and losses
offset by a $34,000  decrease  in the Life and Health  Division's  benefits  and
losses.  The Casualty  Division's  increase was due to higher reserves while the
Life and Health Division's decrease was due to lower reserves.
 
As a percentage  of premium  revenue,  insurance  benefits  and losses  incurred
increased  to 66.7% in 1997  from  65.9% in 1996.  In 1997,  Georgia  Casualty's
percentage was 60.7% compared to 66.4% in 1996. American  Southern's  percentage
in the first quarter of 1997 was 74.9%  compared to 70.5% for the same period in
1996.  The Life and Health  Division's  percentage was 57.6% in 1997 compared to
58.3% in 1996.

Commission and underwriting expenses decreased to $6.0 million in 1997 from $6.4
million in 1996 mainly due to a decline in  commissions  of  $490,000.  American
Southern  experienced a decline in commissions of $541,000,  the Life and Health
Division  saw only a slight  decrease in  commissions,  and  Georgia  Casualty's
commission expense increased by $52,000.

Interest expense for the first quarter of 1997 was $733,000 compared to $923,000
in the first quarter of 1996 due to a decrease in the Company's  debt  liability
which  resulted  from  repayments  since March 31, 1996,  of $4.0 million on the
American Southern acquisition loan and $5.3 million of affiliated debt.

   LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company's  insurance  subsidiaries  reported a combined  statutory income of
$2.1  million  for the  first  quarter  of 1997 and 1996.  Consistent  statutory
earnings  were  mainly  due to  increased  income  from  operations  offset by a
reduction  in  realized  gains  of  $631,000.  The Life  and  Health  Division's
statutory earnings increased  $344,000,  and the Casualty  Division's  statutory
earnings decreased $394,000.

In connection  with the  acquisition of American  Southern on December 31, 1995,
the Company entered into a Credit Agreement with Wachovia Bank of Georgia,  N.A.
At March 31, 1997, the Company had outstanding  borrowings  under this agreement
of  approximately  $29.0  million,  of which $3.0  million  will  become due and
payable  during the last nine months of 1997. The Company repaid $1.0 million of
outstanding  principal  during the first quarter of 1997 as scheduled  under the
terms of the agreement.  The Company intends to repay its obligations  under the
Credit  Agreement using dividend  payments  received from its  subsidiaries  and
receipts from its tax sharing agreement.

The Company  provides certain  administrative  and other services to each of its
insurance  subsidiaries.  The amounts charged to and paid by the subsidiaries in
1997 remained  approximately the same as in 1996. In addition, the Company has a
formal tax-sharing agreement between the Company and its insurance subsidiaries.
It is anticipated  that this agreement will provide the Company with  additional
funds from profitable subsidiaries due to the subsidiaries' use of the Company's
tax loss carryforwards  which totaled  approximately  $51.0 million at March 31,
1997.

At March 31, 1997, the Company had a net cumulative  deferred tax asset of zero.
The net cumulative deferred tax asset consisted of $25.2 million of deferred tax
assets, offset by $8.9 million of deferred tax liabilities,  and a $16.3 million
valuation  allowance.  Due to the uncertain nature of their ultimate realization
based upon past performance and expiration  dates, the Company has established a
full valuation allowance against these carryforward  benefits and recognizes the
benefits only as reassessment  demonstrates  they are realizable.  The Company's
ability to generate  taxable  income from  operations is dependent  upon various
factors, many of which are beyond management's control.  Accordingly,  there can
be no assurance  that the Company will generate  future  taxable income based on
historical  performance.  Therefore,  the realization of the deferred tax assets
will be assessed  periodically  based on the Company's  current and  anticipated
results of operations.

                                      -7-

Approximately  94.6% of the investment assets of the insurance  subsidiaries are
in marketable securities that can be converted into cash, if required;  however,
use of such  assets by the  Company is limited by state  insurance  regulations.
Dividend  payments to the Company by its insurance  subsidiaries  are limited to
the accumulated statutory earnings of the individual insurance subsidiaries.  At
March 31,  1997,  Georgia  Casualty had $8.6  million of  accumulated  statutory
earnings, American Southern had $18.5 million of accumulated statutory earnings,
and  Bankers  Fidelity  had $17.8  million of  accumulated  statutory  earnings.
American Southern paid the Company dividends of $900,000 in the first quarter of
1997.

The Company believes that the fees and charges it receives from its subsidiaries
and, if needed,  borrowings from banks and affiliates of the Company will enable
the Company to meet its liquidity  requirements for the foreseeable  future. The
Company  anticipates  that the funds to be used to retire  the $5.6  million  in
outstanding principal amount of the Company's 8% Convertible  Subordinated Notes
due May 15, 1997, will come from bank financing.  Management is not aware of any
current  recommendations by regulatory authorities which, if implemented,  would
have a material adverse effect on the Company's liquidity,  capital resources or
operations.

Net cash used by operating  activities was $883,000 in 1997 compared to net cash
used by operating  activities of $1.9 million in the first quarter of 1996. This
improvement in operating cash flows was due mainly to lower Company expenses and
lower claims paid by Georgia Casualty.  The Company's  interest expense declined
by $190,000 and data processing expenses declined by $70,000. Georgia Casualty's
claims paid  decreased from 1996 by $550,000.  Cash and  short-term  investments
decreased from $45.5 million at December 31, 1996, to $44.6 million at March 31,
1997,  mainly due to the sale of short-term  investments,  the proceeds of which
were used for non-investment  purposes.  Total investments (excluding short-term
investments)  decreased to $141.4 million at March 31, 1997, from $142.5 million
at December  31, 1996,  due  primarily to declines of $3.5 million in policy and
student  loans and $2.0 million in common and  preferred  stocks offset by a net
increase in bonds of $4.5 million.
















                                           -8-



                           PART II. OTHER INFORMATION


                 ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES



Item 6.  Exhibits and Report on Form 8-K.

   (a)  The following exhibits are filed herewith:

        Exhibit 11.   Computation of net income per common share.

        Exhibit 27.   Financial data schedule.

   (b)  No reports on Form 8-K were filed with the Securities and Exchange
        Commission during the first quarter of 1997.







































                                     -9-



                                    SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.





                          ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
                                  (Registrant)



 

Date:  May 14, 1997           By:           /s/   
       -------------------        -------------------------------------------- 
                                  John W. Hancock
                                  Senior Vice President-Treasurer
                                  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


































                                     -10-



                                                                     EXHIBIT 11

                 ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   COMPUTATIONS OF NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE
                               SUPPORTING SCHEDULE


                                                    Three Months Ended
                                                         March 31,
                                                   ---------------------
(In thousands, except per share data)                1997         1996 
                                                   --------     --------

Net income                                         $ 1,938      $ 1,977

Less preferred dividends to affiliates                (380)        (380)
                                                   ---------------------

Net income available to common              
shareholders                                       $ 1,558      $ 1,597
                                                   =====================

Weighted average common shares outstanding          18,873       18,808
                                                   =====================

Net income per common share                        $  0.08      $  0.08  
                                                
                                                   =====================


  NOTE: Fully diluted earnings per common share are not presented because the
        effect of convertible subordinated notes and preferred stock is 
        anti-dilutive.









 

7 1000 3-MOS DEC-31-1997 MAR-31-1997 0 95807 95807 35723 6752 46 141358 44641 27111 15257 265196 121829 36873 3882 0 34611 0 164 18712 39917 265196 21775 2875 39 2 14532 6044 0 1978 40 0 0 0 0 1938 0.08 0.08 0 0 0 0 0 0 0