SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    Form 11-K


(Mark One)
|X|   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
        1934

                   For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997

                                       OR

|_|   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
        ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED)


                          Commission file number 0-3722

      A.     Full title of the plan and the  address of the plan,  if  different
             from that of the issuer named below:

                          Atlantic American Corporation
                         401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

      B.     Name of issuer of the securities  held pursuant to the plan and the
             address of its principal executive office:

                          Atlantic American Corporation
                            4370 Peachtree Road, N.E.
                             Atlanta, Georgia 30319





                          ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
                         401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN



The following exhibits are filed herewith:

      Exhibit 99.1:  Financial Statements and Schedules as of December 31,
                     1997 and 1996 together with auditor's report.

      Exhibit 99.2:  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP



                                       1




SIGNATURES

THE PLAN.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the trustees (or other persons who  administer  the employee  benefit plan) have
duly  caused this  annual  report to be signed on its behalf by the  undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.

                                 Atlantic American Corporation
                                401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
                           ------------------------------------------
                                        (Name of Plan)

Date:  July 15, 1997       Edward L. Rand, Jr.
       -------------       ------------------------------------------
                           Vice President - Treasurer






                                       2


                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.1


                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS




To the Administrative Committee of the
Atlantic American Corporation 401(k)
Retirement Savings Plan:


We have audited the accompanying  financial  statements of the ATLANTIC AMERICAN
CORPORATION  401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and
for the year ended  December 31, 1997,  as listed in the  accompanying  table of
contents. These financial statements and the schedules referred to below are the
responsibility  of the Plan's  management.  Our  responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements and schedules based on our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material  respects,  the net assets  available  for benefits of the Atlantic
American  Corporation 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan as of December 31, 1997 and
1996 and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for the year ended
December 31, 1997 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

Our  audits  were  made for the  purpose  of  forming  an  opinion  on the basic
financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedules of assets held
for investment  purposes and reportable  transactions are presented for purposes
of  additional  analysis  and are not a  required  part of the  basic  financial
statements but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor
Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974. The  supplemental  schedules have been subjected to
the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial  statements
and, in our opinion,  are fairly stated in all material  respects in relation to
the basic financial statements taken as a whole.



Arthur Andersen, LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
June 26, 1998




                   ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
                  401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN


                FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES
                    DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996





                         TABLE OF CONTENTS



FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

      Statements of Net Assets Available for
      Benefits--December 31, 1997 and 1996

      Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
      for the Year Ended December 31, 1997


NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES


SCHEDULES SUPPORTING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

      Schedule I:    Item 27a--Schedule of Assets Held for
                     Investment Purposes--December 31, 1997

      Schedule II:   Item 27d--Schedule of Reportable Transactions
                     for the Year Ended December 31, 1997



                   ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
                  401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN


          STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
                    DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996







                                                   1997        1996

                                                ----------------------
ASSETS:

  Cash                                           $ 17,607    $ 28,963


  Investments, at market value:

    Participant-directed:

      Common stock--Atlantic American             795,012     433,926
        Corporation

      INVESCO Cash Reserves Fund                  411,740     426,508

      INVESCO Industrial Income Fund              627,177     415,985

      INVESCO Intermediate Government Bond        289,584     299,669
        Fund

      INVESCO Total Return Fund                   775,377     539,575

      INVESCO Dynamics Fund                       849,528     644,193

    Nonparticipant-directed:

      Common stock--Atlantic American             141,309      51,376
        Corporation

  Participant loans                                19,593       1,240
                                               ----------------------
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS              $3,926,927  $2,841,435

                                               ======================






 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.




                                                                                                                         SCHEDULE II

                          ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION
                         401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN


            STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
                      FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997



Nonparticipant- Participant-Directed -------------------------------------------------------------------- Directed Atlantic Atlantic INVESCO INVESCO INVESCO INVESCO American American Cash Industrial Intermediate Total INVESCO Corporation Corporation Reserves Income Government Return Dynamics Loan Common Common Fund Fund Bond Fund Fund Fund Other Fund Total Stock Stock ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADDITIONS: Participant contributions $ 0 $ 19,196 $ 6,029 $ 75,952 $ 13,167 $ 62,696 $ 79,621 $ 0 $ (3,311) $253,350 Employer contributions 36,705 55,137 0 0 0 0 0 14,400 0 106,242 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total contributions 36,705 74,333 6,029 75,952 13,167 62,696 79,621 14,400 (3,311) 359,592 Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair market value of investments 50,541 310,110 135 47,190 2,017 118,541 59,484 0 0 588,018 Interest and dividend income 0 0 19,096 74,434 14,892 31,006 102,079 0 0 241,507 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total additions 87,246 384,443 25,260 197,576 30,076 212,243 241,184 14,400 (3,311) 1,189,117 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DEDUCTIONS: Benefit payments to participants (1,547) (10,969) (10,841) (18,638) (7,354) (23,372) (18,001) (9,853) 0 (100,575) Participant loans 0 (3,611) (514) (5,072) (470) (3,209) (11,563) (275) 21,664 (3,050) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total deductions (1,547) (14,580) (11,355) (23,710) (7,824) (26,581) (29,564) (10,128) 21,664 (103,625) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS 4,234 (8,777) (28,673) 37,326 (32,337) 50,140 (6,285) (15,628) 0 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET INCREASE (DECREASE) 89,933 361,086 (14,768) 211,192 (10,085) 235,802 205,335 (11,356) 18,353 1,085,492 NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS: Beginning of year 51,376 433,926 426,508 415,985 299,669 539,575 644,193 28,963 1,240 2,841,435 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of year $141,309 $795,012 $411,740 $627,177 $289,584 $775,377 $849,528 $17,607 $19,593 $3,926,927 ============================================================================================================= The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.
ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION 401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996 1. PLAN DESCRIPTION General The Atlantic American Corporation 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (the "Plan") is a defined contribution plan established by the Atlantic American Corporation (the "Company") under the provisions of Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"), which includes a qualified cash or deferred arrangement as described in Sections 401(k) and 401(m) of the Code, for the benefit of eligible employees of the Company. All employees of the Company who have completed one year of service, as defined, are eligible to participate. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. Participants should refer to the plan agreement for a complete description of the Plan. Plan Administration INVESCO Trust Company (the "Trustee") is the Trustee of the Plan and has custodial responsibility for the Plan's assets including the authority and power to, among other things, invest the principal and income of the Plan's assets. Contributions Eligible employees can contribute an amount up to 16% of annual compensation, as defined by the Plan, subject to certain limitations under the Code. The Company provides a matching contribution equal to 50% of the first 6% of each participant's contribution. All company matching contributions are made in Atlantic American Corporation common stock. A participant can elect to transfer the company contribution into another investment fund only after the participant is fully vested in the company matching contributions. Vesting Participants are always fully vested in their own contributions. Each participant becomes vested in the employer contributions based on years of continuous service. Participants become fully vested after seven years of service with no intervening breaks in service of five years or more. A participant is credited with one year of service each calendar year in which the participant works 1,000 hours. A break in service is deemed to be any year in which the participant does not complete more than 500 hours of service. The participants vested percentage in employer contributions with years of service is as follows: Years of Vested Service Percentage ------------- ---------- Less than one 0% One 10 Two 20 Three 30 Four 40 Five 60 Six 80 Seven or more 100 Benefits Upon termination of service due to death, disability, or retirement, a participant or their beneficiary may elect to receive an amount equal to the value of the participant's vested interest in his/her account. The form of payment, selected by the participant or their beneficiary, is either a lump-sum distribution, an annuity to be paid in monthly installments over a fixed period of years, or a direct rollover into a qualified retirement plan or IRA. Participant Accounts Individual accounts are maintained for each of the Plan's participants and reflect the participant's contributions, employer contributions, and the participant's share of the Plan's income. Allocations are based on the proportion that each participant's account balance bears to the total of all participant account balances. Investment Options Participants may direct their contributions and any related earnings into several investment options in 10% increments. Participants may change their investment elections once each calendar quarter. The participants in the Plan can invest in any of the following options: o Atlantic American Corporation Stock--Funds are invested in common stock of Atlantic American Corporation. o INVESCO Cash Reserves Fund--Funds are invested in short-term obligations such as commercial paper, U.S. government and government agency obligations, and repurchase agreements. o INVESCO Industrial Income Fund--Funds are invested in dividend-paying common stocks of large U.S. companies and in convertible bonds, debt issues, and preferred stocks. o INVESCO Intermediate Government Bond Fund--Funds are invested in obligations of the U.S. government and government agencies maturing in three to five years. o INVESCO Total Return Fund--Funds are invested in common stocks and in fixed and variable income securities. o INVESCO Dynamics Fund--Funds are invested with rapidly growing companies, traded essentially on national exchanges and over-the-counter. Forfeitures Amounts forfeited from nonvested accounts are used to reduce future employer contributions. Termination Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants will become fully vested in their accounts as of the termination date. 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND OTHER MATTERS Basis of Accounting The accompanying financial statements have been prepared using the accrual basis of accounting. Use of Estimates The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Valuation of Investments Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value. Marketable securities are stated at fair value. Purchases and sales of securities and mutual funds are reflected on a trade-date basis. Administrative Expenses The Company pays all administrative expenses of the Plan, including trustee fees. Reclassifications Certain 1996 amounts presented herein have been reclassified to conform with the 1997 presentation. 3. INVESTMENTS The fair market values of individual investments that represent 5% or more of the Plan's net assets as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 are as follows: 1997: Atlantic American Corporation common $936,321 stock INVESCO Cash Reserves Fund 411,740 INVESCO Industrial Income Fund 627,177 INVESCO Intermediate Government Bond 289,584 Fund INVESCO Total Return Fund 775,377 INVESCO Dynamics Fund 849,528 1996: Atlantic American Corporation common 485,302 stock INVESCO Cash Reserves Fund 426,508 INVESCO Industrial Income Fund 415,985 INVESCO Intermediate Government Bond 299,669 Fund INVESCO Total Return Fund 539,575 INVESCO Dynamics Fund 644,193 Net appreciation in fair value of investments by major investment type for the year ended December 31, 1997 is as follows: Common stock $360,651 Mutual funds 227,367 -------- $588,018 ======== 4. TAX STATUS The Internal Revenue Service issued a determination letter dated May 21, 1996 stating that the Plan was in accordance with applicable plan requirements as of that date. The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. However, the plan administrator believes that the Plan is currently designed and is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code. Therefore, the plan administrator believes that the Plan was qualified and the related trust was tax-exempt as of December 31, 1997. 5. PARTICIPANT LOANS Participants may borrow from their fund accounts a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of the employee contribution balance. Participants may elect to have their loans disbursed from specific investment funds. Loan terms range from six months to five years or within a reasonable time if used for the purchase of a primary residence. The loans are secured by the vested value of the participants account balance and bear interest at the prime rate of interest on the date of the loan, plus 1%. Principal and interest are paid ratably through payroll deductions of not less than $10 per pay period, or in a single lump sum. SCHEDULE I ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION 401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN ITEM 27a--SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES DECEMBER 31, 1997 Current Units Cost Value ----------------------------------- MONEY MARKET FUND: * INVESCO Cash Reserves Fund 411,740 $ 411,740 $ 411,740 MUTUAL FUNDS: * INVESCO Industrial Income Fund 42,064 543,096 627,177 * INVESCO Intermediate Government Bond Fund 23,074 284,850 289,584 * INVESCO Total Return Fund 26,654 578,826 775,377 * INVESCO Dynamics Fund 60,854 762,376 849,528 COMMON STOCK: * Atlantic American Corporation 184,934 507,124 936,321 * PARTICIPANT LOANS (9.5%) 19,593 19,593 19,593 ------------------------ Total $3,107,605 $3,909,320 ======================== *Indicates a party in interest. The accompanying notes are an integral part of this schedule. SCHEDULE II ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORPORATION 401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN ITEM 27d--SCHEDULE OF REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS (a) FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
Description of Asset, Including Rate of Purchase Selling Net Identity of Party Involved Interest and Maturity in Case of Loans Price Cost Price Gain - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INVESCO TRUST COMPANY Atlantic American Corporation: 25 purchases $129,392 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 15 sales 29,974 36,549 6,575 INVESCO TRUST COMPANY INVESCO Cash Reserve Fund: 63 purchases 39,786 0 0 0 37 sales 54,553 54,553 0 INVESCO TRUST COMPANY INVESCO Industrial Income Fund: 48 purchases 193,414 0 0 0 18 sales 24,212 28,853 4,641 INVESCO TRUST COMPANY INVESCO Intermediate Government Bond Fund: 38 purchases 27,037 0 0 0 19 sales 39,763 40,161 398 INVESCO TRUST COMPANY INVESCO Total Return Fund: 49 purchases 147,847 0 0 0 21 sales 23,159 30,199 7,040 INVESCO TRUST COMPANY INVESCO Dynamics Fund: 34 purchases 188,843 0 0 0 26 sales 37,548 42,198 4,650 (a) Represents transactions or a series of transactions in excess of 5% of the fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the year. The accompanying notes are an integral part of this schedule.


                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.2


CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


As independent  public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the  incorporation by
reference of our report dated June 26, 1998,  included in this Annual  Report of
The Atlantic American  Corporation  401(k) Retirement  Savings Plan on Form 11-K
for the  year  ended  December  31,  1997,  into  the  Plan's  previously  filed
Registration Statement No. 33-90890.



ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP


Atlanta, Georgia
July 15, 1998