Allied Group: Announces Annual Meeting Date

CONTACT:  Jim Shaffer, Sr. V.P. & CFO
          ph. 515-280-4326



                           ALLIED GROUP, INC. 
                      ANNOUNCES ANNUAL MEETING DATE

Des Moines, Iowa, January 5, 1998 -- ALLIED Group, Inc. (NYSE symbol GRP)
announced its Board of Directors set February 25, 1998 as the date of record
for the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 5, 1998. The
Board also adopted a Bylaw amendment to provide for advance notification of
stockholder proposals and director nominations.

ALLIED Group, Inc. is a regional property-casualty insurance holding company
specializing in personal lines.  The Company's property-casualty subsidiaries
use independent agencies, exclusive agencies, and direct response marketing to
offer products in central and western states. 


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