SURETY CAPITAL CORP /DE/
SC 13G, 1999-02-10
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934*


                           SURETY CAPITAL CORPORATION
                                (Name of Issuer)


                                  Common Stock
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                    868666207
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                                December 31, 1998
             (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)


Check the  appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:

         [X]      Rule 13d-1(b)

         [  ]     Rule 13d-1(c)

         [  ]     Rule 13d-1(d)

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting  person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for  any  subsequent   amendment   containing   information  which  would  alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise  subject to the liabilities of that Section of the Act
but  shall be  subject  to all other  provisions  of the Act  (however,  see the
Notes).
                                  Page 1 of 10
<PAGE>

CUSIP NO. 868666207

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.       Name Of Reporting Persons
         I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)

         Pilgrim America Capital Corporation
         86-0670679

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.       Check The Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

         (a) [  ]          (b)  [  ]

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.       SEC Use Only
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4.       Citizenship or Place of Organization:

         Delaware

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              5.  Sole Voting Power                       0
Number Of Shares              __________________________________________________
Beneficially Owned
By Each Reporting             6.  Shared Voting Power                     0
Person With:                  __________________________________________________

                              7.  Sole Dispositive Power                  0
                              __________________________________________________

                              8.  Shared Dispositive Power                0

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.       Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned By Each Reporting Person

         None.  Pursuant  to Rule 13d-4,  Pilgrim  America  Capital  Corporation
         declares that the filing of this Schedule 13G shall not be deemed to be
         an admission  by it that it is, for purposes of Section  13(d) or 13(g)
         of the Securities  Exchange Act, the beneficial owner of any securities
         covered by this statement.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.      Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares  [  ]

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.      Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

         0%

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.      Type of Reporting Person

         HC
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Page 2 of 10

<PAGE>
CUSIP NO. 868666207

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.       Name Of Reporting Persons
         I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)

         Pilgrim Group, Inc.
         95-4516050

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.       Check The Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

         (a) [  ]          (b)  [  ]

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.       SEC Use Only
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4.       Citizenship or Place of Organization:

         Delaware

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              5.  Sole Voting Power                       0
Number Of Shares              __________________________________________________
Beneficially Owned
By Each Reporting             6.  Shared Voting Power                     0
Person With:                  __________________________________________________
                              
                              7.  Sole Dispositive Power                  0
                              __________________________________________________

                              8.  Shared Dispositive Power                0

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.       Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned By Each Reporting Person

         None.  Pursuant to Rule 13d-4,  Pilgrim Group,  Inc. declares that the
         filing of this  Schedule 13G shall not be deemed to be an admission by
         it  that  it is,  for  purposes  of  Section  13(d)  or  13(g)  of the
         Securities  Exchange  Act,  the  beneficial  owner  of any  securities
         covered by this statement.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.      Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares  [  ]

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.      Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

         0%

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.      Type of Reporting Person

         HC
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Page 3 of 10
<PAGE>
CUSIP NO. 868666207

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.       Name Of Reporting Persons
         I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)

         Pilgrim Investments, Inc.
         95-4516049

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.       Check The Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

         (a) [  ]          (b)  [  ]

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.       SEC Use Only
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4.       Citizenship or Place of Organization:

         Delaware

- ----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
                              5.  Sole Voting Power                      0
Number Of Shares              __________________________________________________
Beneficially Owned            
By Each Reporting             6.  Shared Voting Power                    0
Person With:                  __________________________________________________

                              7.  Sole Dispositive Power                 0
                              __________________________________________________

                              8.  Shared Dispositive Power         544,200

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.       Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned By Each Reporting Person

         544,200.  Pursuant to Rule 13d-4,  Pilgrim  Investments,  Inc. declares
         that the  filing  of this  Schedule  13G  shall  not be deemed to be an
         admission by it that it is, for  purposes of Section  13(d) or 13(g) of
         the  Securities  Exchange Act, the  beneficial  owner of any securities
         covered by this statement.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.      Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares  [  ]

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.      Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

         9.46%

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.      Type of Reporting Person

         IA
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Page 4 of 10
<PAGE>
CUSIP NO. 868666207

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.       Name Of Reporting Persons
         I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)

         Pilgrim Bank and Thrift Fund, Inc.
         95-4020286

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.       Check The Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

         (a) [  ]          (b)  [  ]

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.       SEC Use Only
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4.       Citizenship or Place of Organization:

         Maryland

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              5.  Sole Voting Power                  544,200
Number Of Shares              __________________________________________________
Beneficially Owned
By Each Reporting             6.  Shared Voting Power                     0
Person With:                  __________________________________________________

                              7.  Sole Dispositive Power                  0
                              __________________________________________________

                              8.  Shared Dispositive Power           544,200

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.       Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned By Each Reporting Person

         544,200
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10.      Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares  [  ]

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.      Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

         9.46%

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.      Type of Reporting Person:

         IV
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Page 5 of 10
<PAGE>
Item 1.

    (a)      Name of Issuer:

             Surety Capital Corporation

    (b)      Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

             1845 Precinct Line Road, Suite 100, Hurst, Texas 76054

Item 2.

    (a)      Name of Person Filing:

             Pilgrim America Capital Corporation
             Pilgrim Group, Inc.
             Pilgrim Investments, Inc.
             Pilgrim Bank and Thrift Fund, Inc.

    (b)      Address of Principal Business Offices or, if none, Residence:

             40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4424

    (c)      Citizenship

             Not applicable

    (d)      Title of Class of Securities:

             Common Stock

    (e)      CUSIP Number:

             868666207

Item 3. If  this  statement  is  filed  pursuant  to  Sections  240.13d-1(b)  or
240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

    (a) [ ]  Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Securities
             Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act").

    (b) [ ]  Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act.

    (c) [ ]  Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act.

                                  Page 6 of 10
<PAGE>

    (d) [X] Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment
            Company Act of 1940.

    (e) [X] An investment advisor in accordance with Section 
            240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).

    (f) [ ] An employee  benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance  with
            Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).

    (g) [X] A parent holding  company or control person in accordance  with
            Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).

    (h) [ ] A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal
            Deposit Insurance Act.

    (i) [ ] A  church  plan  that  is  excluded  from  the  definition  of an
            investment  company  under  Section  3(c)(14)  of the  Investment
            Company Act of 1940.                                             

    (j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

Item 4.  Ownership.

         Items (a) through  (c): See items 1 and 5-11 of the cover pages to this
         filing.

Item 5.  Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

         Not applicable

Item 6.  Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

         Not applicable

Item 7.  Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the
         Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company.

         Pilgrim  Investments,  Inc., which is a registered  investment  adviser
         under Section 203 of the  Investment  Advisers  Act, is a  wholly-owned
         subsidiary of Pilgrim Group,  Inc., which is a wholly-owned  subsidiary
         of  Pilgrim  America  Capital  Corporation.  The  reported  shares  are
         beneficially  owned by Pilgrim Bank and Thrift Fund,  Inc.,  which is a
         registered  investment  company  for which  Pilgrim  Investments,  Inc.
         serves as investment adviser.

Item 8.  Identification and Classification of Members of the Group

         Not applicable
                                  Page 7 of 10

<PAGE>

Item 9.  Notice of Dissolution of Group

         Not applicable

Item 10. Certification

         By  signing  below I  certify  that,  to the best of my  knowledge  and
belief,  the  securities  referred  to above were  acquired  and are held in the
ordinary  course  of  business  and were not  acquired  and are not held for the
purpose of or with the effect of  changing  or  influencing  the  control of the
issuer of the  securities  and were not acquired and are not held in  connection
with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.


                                    SIGNATURE

         After reasonable  inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information  set forth in this statement is true,  complete and
correct.


                                        PILGRIM AMERICA CAPITAL CORPORATION



February 4, 1999                        By:       /s/ James M. Hennessy
  (Date)                                Name:     James M. Hennessy
                                        Title:    Executive Vice President


                                        PILGRIM GROUP, INC.



February 4, 1999                        By:       /s/ James M. Hennessy
  (Date)                                Name:     James M. Hennessy
                                        Title:    Executive Vice President


                                        PILGRIM INVESTMENTS, INC.



February 4, 1999                        By:       /s/ James M. Hennessy
  (Date)                                Name:     James M. Hennessy
                                        Title:    Executive Vice President

                                  Page 8 of 10
<PAGE>


                                        PILGRIM BANK AND THRIFT FUND, INC.



February 4, 1999                        By:       /s/ James M. Hennessy
  (Date)                                Name:     James M. Hennessy
                                        Title:    Executive Vice President







                                  Page 9 of 10
<PAGE>
                             Joint Filing Agreement

         In accordance  with Rule 13d-1(f) under the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934,  as amended,  the  undersigned  hereby agree to the joint filing with each
other of a  Schedule  13G,  and all  amendments  thereto,  with  respect to each
holding of Pilgrim Bank and Thrift Fund,  Inc. as to which such a report must be
made, and that each such Schedule and all amendments  thereto are made on behalf
of each of them.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned hereby execute this agreement this
4th day of February, 1999.

                                        PILGRIM AMERICA CAPITAL CORPORATION


                                        By:       /s/ James M. Hennessy
                                        Name:     James M. Hennessy
                                        Title:    Executive Vice President


                                        PILGRIM GROUP, INC.


                                        By:       /s/ James M. Hennessy
                                        Name:     James M. Hennessy
                                        Title:    Executive Vice President



                                        PILGRIM INVESTMENTS, INC.


                                        By:       /s/ James M. Hennessy
                                        Name:     James M. Hennessy
                                        Title:    Executive Vice President



                                        PILGRIM BANK AND THRIFT FUND, INC.


                                        By:       /s/ James M. Hennessy
                                        Name:     James M. Hennessy
                                        Title:    Executive Vice President

                                 Page 10 of 10



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