NATIONAL SECURITY GROUP INC
DEF 14A, 1998-04-14
LIFE INSURANCE
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                        THE NATIONAL SECURITY GROUP, INC.
                              661 EAST DAVIS STREET
                               ELBA, ALABAMA 36323


                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                   MAY 14,1998

     Notice  is  hereby  given of the  Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders  of The
National  Security Group,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the "Company"),  to be
held at the  principal  executive  offices of the Company in Elba,  Alabama,  on
Thursday, May 14, 1998 at 10:00 a.m. (Central Time) for the following purposes:

  1.To elect four (4) members to the Board of  Directors to serve for three year
    terms and until their successors are duly elected and qualified;

  2.To  transact  such other  business  as may  property  come before the Annual
    Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

     Only  Stockholders  of record at the close of  business  on April 14,  1998
shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual  Meeting.  Stockholders
are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person.

                                                   BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF
                                                           DIRECTORS

                                                          \s\ Bette Ham
                                                       ----------------------
                                                               Bette Ham
                                                               Secretary













Elba, Alabama
April 14,1998








<PAGE>



                        THE NATIONAL SECURITY GROUP, INC.
                              661 East Davis Street
                               Elba, Alabama 36323


                                 PROXY STATEMENT


     This  document,  which  constitutes  a Proxy  Statement  for  The  National
Security  Group,  Inc., (the "Company") is being furnished to the holders of the
common stock of the Company in connection  with the  solicitation  of proxies by
the  Board  of  Directors  of the  Company  for  use at the  Annual  Meeting  of
Stockholders  of the Company to be held at 10:00 a.m.  (Central Time) on May 14,
1998 at the principal  executive offices of the Company (the "Annual  Meeting").
At the  Annual  Meeting,  the  Company's  stockholders  will vote to elect  four
directors  to serve for three year  terms and until  their  successors  are duly
elected and qualified.

     All costs in connection with the solicitation of the enclosed proxy will be
paid by the Company.

     The date of this Proxy Statement is April 14, 1998.

                                     GENERAL

     This Proxy Statement is being mailed to holders of the Company Common Stock
on or about April 14, 1998, in connection with the  solicitation by the Board of
Directors of the Company of proxies to be used at the Annual  Meeting to be held
at the Company's  principal  executive  offices,  661 East Davis  Street,  Elba,
Alabama 36323, on Thursday, May 14, 1998, at 10:00 a.m. (Central Time).

     At the Annual  Meeting,  the  stockholders  of the Company  will elect four
directors  to serve for three year  terms.  If the  enclosed  proxy is  properly
signed and returned, your shares will be voted on all matters that properly come
before the Annual  Meeting for a vote.  If  instructions  are  specified in your
signed proxy with respect to matters being voted upon, your shares will be voted
in accordance with your instructions.  If no instructions are so specified, your
shares will be voted "FOR" the election of the persons nominated as directors in
the proxy  statement.  So far as is now known,  there is no business to be acted
upon  at the  Annual  Meeting  other  than  as set  forth  above,  and it is not
anticipated  that other matters will be brought before the Annual  Meeting.  If,
however,  other appropriate  matters are duly brought before the Annual Meeting,
the  persons  appointed  as proxy  agents  will have  discretion  to vote or act
thereon  according  to their own  judgement.  A proxy may be  revoked if written
notice of such revocation is received by Mrs. Bette Ham, Secretary, The National
Security Group,  Inc., 661 East Davis Street,  Elba,  Alabama 36323, at any time
before the taking of the vote at the Annual Meeting.

     Whether  or not you  attend the  Annual  Meeting,  your vote is  important.
Accordingly, you are asked to sign and return the accompanying proxy, regardless
of the number of shares you own.  Shares can be voted at the Annual Meeting only
if the holder is present or  represented  by proxy.  The Board of Directors  has
fixed the  close of  business  on April 14,  1998,  as the  record  date for the
determination  of stockholders who are entitled to notice of, and to vote at the
Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof. On the record date, the Company had
outstanding 2,312,820 shares of Company Stock, the holders of which are entitled
to one vote per share.  No shares of any other class of Company stock are issued
or outstanding.


                                        1

<PAGE>



     A proxy may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise (i) by filing with
the Secretary of the Company  either an instrument  revoking the proxy or a duly
executed  proxy bearing a later date or (ii) by attending the Annual Meeting and
voting in person.  Attendance at the Annual  Meeting by itself will not revoke a
proxy.  Shares of Common Stock  represented by a properly  executed and returned
proxy  will be  treated  as  present  at the  Annual  Meeting  for  purposes  of
determining a quorum  without regard to whether the proxy is marked as casting a
vote for or against  or  abstaining  with  respect to a  particular  matter.  In
addition, shares of Common Stock represented by "broker non-votes" (i.e., shares
of Common  Stock  held in record  name by brokers  or  nominees  as to which (i)
instructions  have not been  received  from the  beneficial  owners  or  persons
entitled to vote, (ii) the broker or nominee does not have discretionary  voting
power or (iii) the record holder has indicated  that it does not have  authority
to vote such shares on the matter)  generally will be treated as present for the
purposes  of  determining  a quorum.  The  affirmative  vote of the holders of a
majority of the  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock of the Company  present in
person or  represented  by proxy at the  Annual  Meeting  and  entitled  to vote
thereon is required for the election of the nominees to the Board of  Directors.
With  respect  to this  matter,  an  abstention  will have the same  effect as a
negative  vote,  but  because  shares  held by  brokers  will not be  considered
entitled to vote on matters as to which brokers would hold  authority,  a broker
non-vote will have no effect on the vote.

                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     The Bylaws of the  Company  provide  that the Board of  Directors  shall be
divided into three  classes as nearly  equal in number as possible.  The term of
each  director  is three  years and the terms are  staggered  to provide for the
election of one class of directors each year.  Four directors will be elected at
the Annual Meeting. Lewis Avinger,  Carolyn Brunson, Craig S. Pittman, and James
B. Saxon (the  "Nominees")  have been  nominated by the Board of  Directors  for
election to serve for a term of three years.  All of the nominees are  currently
serving as directors of the Company.

     The persons  named in the enclosed  proxy intend to vote "FOR" the election
of the Nominees  unless the proxy is marked to indicate that such  authorization
is expressly withheld. Should any of the Nominees be unable to accept nomination
or election  (which the Board of Directors  does not expect) or should any other
vacancy have occurred in the Board,  it is the intention of the persons named in
the  enclosed  proxy to vote for the  election of the person or persons whom the
Board of Directors recommends.

     The following tables set forth the names and certain information concerning
the Nominees and each other director who will continue to serve (the "Continuing
Directors") as a director of the Company after the Annual Meeting:

                                    NOMINEES

                    Positions Held        Age at           Director
     Name           with the Company    Dec.31,1997         Since*

Lewis Avinger       Director                75               1984
Carolyn Brunson     Director                70               1978
Craig S. Pittman    Director                41               1992
James B. Saxon      Director                63               1982


         THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE
                  ELECTION OF THE ABOVE NOMINEES AS DIRECTORS.


                                        2

<PAGE>



                              Continuing Directors

                       Age at              Director                 End of
     Name            Dec.31,1997            Since*                Present Term

Winfield Baird         65                   1964                      1999

Jerry B. Brunson       63                   1979                      1999

J. R. Brunson          69                   1962                      2000

Fred D. Clark, Jr.     37                   1996                      1999

D. M. English          79                   1947                      2000

M.L. Murdock           55                   1976                      1999

Walter P. Wilkerson    50                   1984                      2000

     *In 1990 National  Security  Insurance Company was reorganized as a holding
company  system  pursuant to a plan of exchange  whereby The  National  Security
Group,  Inc., (the  "Company"),became  the holding company for National Security
Insurance  Company (the"Life  Company"),  and its prior  subsidiaries,  National
Security Fire & Casualty  Company (the "Casualty  Company"),  and NATSCO,  Inc.,
("NATSCO"). References to tenure with the Company (in the above table and in the
following  biographical  section) include the individual's  tenure with the Life
Company prior to the reorganization.

                            BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

     The business experience of each of the Nominees and Continuing Directors is
set forth below.

     Nominees

     LEWIS  AVINGER is a retired  Savings and Loan  executive  from  Montgomery,
Alabama.

     CAROLYN  BRUNSON  presently  serves  as the  Managing  Partner  of  Brunson
Properties  (formerly the W.L. Brunson Estate), a family partnership  engaged in
investments.

     CRAIG  PITTMAN is an attorney and Managing  Partner in the firm of Pittman,
Pittman & Carwie, Mobile, Alabama.

     JAMES B.  SAXON is a  retired  executive  of  Anderson  Products,  Square D
Company, Leeds, Alabama.

                                        3

<PAGE>



Continuing Directors

     WINFIELD  BAIRD is currently  the  President  and a director of  Investment
Counselors of Alabama, Inc., of Birmingham, Alabama.

     JERRY B. BRUNSON is the retired  immediate  Past President of First Federal
Bank of  Enterprise,  Alabama.  Since 1987 he has served as Vice Chairman of the
Company. Mr. Brunson is also a director of the Life Company, Omega One Insurance
Company,  NASCO,  Colonial Bank (Enterprise,  Alabama branch) and the Enterprise
State Junior College Foundation.

     J. R. BRUNSON has served as President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of the
Company and its  subsidiaries  since 1978.  He  previously  held the position of
Senior  Vice  President.  He joined the Company in 1953.  Mr.  Brunson is also a
director of the Life Company, the Casualty Company, Omega One Insurance Company,
Inc.,  NATSCO,  Inc.,  and  NASCO,  and serves on the Board of  Trustees  of the
University of South Alabama.

     FRED  CLARK,  JR.,  is  currently   President  of  Alabama  Rural  Electric
Association  of  Cooperatives,   Montgomery,   Alabama.  Prior  to  his  present
affiliation he was State Director for U.S.  Senator Richard Shelby,  Legislative
Representative  for  National  Rural  Electric  Cooperative   Association,   and
Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Howell Heflin.

     D. M.  ENGLISH  is a  retired  urban  renewal  administrator.  He  became a
director of the Company  upon its founding in 1947 and  currently  serves as its
Chairman of the Board. He has held that position since 1987. Mr. English is also
a director of the Casualty  Company,  Omega One  Insurance  Company,  Inc.,  and
NASCO.

     M.L. MURDOCK, C.P.A., has served as Senior Vice President,  Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer of the Company since 1982. Prior to that time he served as
Vice President and Controller of the Company. He initially joined the Company in
1970.  Mr.  Murdock is also a director of the Life Company,  Omega One Insurance
Company, Inc., NASCO, and NATSCO, Inc.

     WALTER R WILKERSON is a certified public accountant and partner in the firm
Barr, Brunson, Wilkerson & Bowden in Enterprise, Alabama.

                          BOARD COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS

     During the last full fiscal year the Board of Directors of the Company held
four regularly  scheduled and special meetings.  All directors attended at least
75% of the meetings of the Board of Directors  and the  committees on which they
served during fiscal year 1997.

     Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee, whose members have been
appointed  annually by the Board of  Directors,  is currently  composed of Lewis
Avinger,  Winfield Baird and Jerry B. Brunson.  The Committee is responsible for
recommending  officers,  the  salaries of officers,  directors  fees and officer
bonuses  to the Board of  Directors  for full  consideration.  The  Compensation
Committee met once in fiscal year 1997.


                                        4

<PAGE>



     Audit  Committee.  The Audit Committee is comprised of Fred D. Clark,  Jr.,
Carolyn E.  Brunson,  Lewis  Avinger  and  Walter P.  Wilkerson.  The  principal
functions of the Audit Committee include making  recommendations to the Board of
Directors concerning the selection of independent auditors, approval of proposed
independent  audit fees, review of internal,  independent,  and regulatory audit
results,  review of proposed  corrective actions and results thereof with senior
management,  review and approval of internal  audit  functions  and controls and
obtaining  assurances of regulatory  compliance from independent  auditors.  The
Audit Committee met once in fiscal year 1997.

     Nominating  Committee.  The  Nominating  Committee is comprised of Winfield
Baird, Jerry B. Brunson and M.L. Murdock.  This committee is responsible for the
nomination of directors.  No procedure has been established by the committee for
considering  nominations by the stockholders.  The Nominating Committee met once
in fiscal year 1997.
                             DIRECTORS' REMUNERATION

     Remuneration  of directors is adjusted  annually.  Directors  are currently
paid an annual fee of $3,300  ($4,622 for the  Chairman),  plus $635 per meeting
attended and mileage  reimbursement  of $.31 per mile.  In  addition,  directors
receive $250 per year for each Board  committee  on which he or she serves,  the
total not to exceed $500.

     The Company has  established  an "Unfunded  Plan of Deferred  Compensation"
which allows  Directors to defer fees  otherwise  payable to them for  attending
Board meetings or serving on committees.  Participating  directors may, at their
option, elect to have the deferred fees credited to either a cash account, which
accrues  interest  quarterly at a prime  interest  rate, or to a stock  account,
under which such  deferred  amounts are treated as if they had been  invested in
shares of the Company's common stock.  Stock accounts may only be distributed in
their  equivalent value in cash. All accounts under the plan are unfunded and do
not represent claims against specific assets of the Company.

          STOCK OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS, NOMINEES AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

     The following  table sets forth  information as of March 1, 1998, as to the
number of shares of Company Common Stock beneficially  owned' by (a) each of the
Company's  directors,  (b) the nominees for director and (c) the  directors  and
executive officers of the Company as a group.

                           SHARES OF
                          COMMON STOCK
                          BENEFICIALLY               PERCENT OF
     NAMES                   OWNED 1                COMMON STOCK

Lewis Avinger                        1,000              .04%

Carolyn E. Brunson                 319,926 2          13.83%






                                        5

<PAGE>



James B. Saxon                      19,260              .83%

Winfield Baird                      98,258             4.25%

Jerry B. Brunson                    62,442             2.70%

M.L. Murdock                         1,200              .05%

J. R. Brunson                      110,255             4.76%

D. M. English                      104,122             4.50%

Walter P. Wilkerson                  5,695              .24%

Craig Pittman                       22,249              .96%

Fred Clark, Jr.                      1,000              .04%

Directors and Officers
(as a group, 14 persons
including persons named            764,144            33.04%
above)

Other closely held stock (as a group,  numbering 32 including  immediate  family
members of some directors, emeritus directors,
affiliated entities, and employee
retirement plan)                   696,685            30.12%

     1 For purposes of this table, an individual is considered to  "beneficially
own" any shares of the Company if he or she directly or indirectly has or shares
(i) voting power,  which  includes power to vote or direct voting of the shares;
or (ii)  investment  power,  which  includes  the power to dispose or direct the
disposition of the shares. All amounts include stock held in a spouse's name.

     2 Includes stock held in Brunson  Properties,  a partnership (W.L.  Brunson
Estate), Carolyn E. Brunson and William L. Brunson, Jr., Managing Partners.

                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

     The family  relationships,  not more remote than first cousin,  which exist
among the directors and nominees are as follows:





                                        6

<PAGE>



     Mr. J. R.  Brunson,  and Mr. Jerry B. Brunson are  brothers.  Mrs.  Carolyn
Brunson  is the  widow of their  deceased  brother,  and  mother of  William  L.
Brunson,  Jr.,  Assistant Vice President and Assistant  Secretary of the Company
and President of the Life Company.  Mr. D. M. English and Mr. James B. Saxon are
their first cousins as well as first  cousins of one another.  Mr. J. R. Brunson
is the father of Jack E. Brunson,  President of the Casualty Company.  Mr. Craig
Pittman is the nephew of Mr. J. R. Brunson and Mr. Jerry B. Brunson. Mr. Pittman
is a partner in Pittman, Pittman & Carwie, Attorneys at Law, which firm provided
legal  services  to a  subsidiary  of the  Company  during  1997.  See  also the
discussion  under the heading  "Compensation  Committee  Interlocks  and Insider
Participation."

                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     The following table sets forth the remuneration paid by the Company and its
subsidiaries  during the fiscal year ended  December  31,  1997,  to each of its
executive officers whose annual compensation exceeds $1,000,000.

                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                Long        Term      Compensation
                                                                              ------------------------------------
                                     Annual       Compensation                 Awards                    Payouts
                                    -------------------------------------
(a)                            (b)       (c)            (d)          (e)         (f)         (g)           (h)            (i)
                                                                    Other
Name                                                               Annual    Restricted                                All Other
and                                                                 Compe       Stock                     LTIP          Compen-
Principal                                                            n-       Award (s)    Options       Payout         sation
Position                     Year    Salary ($)      Bonus ($)     sation        ($)        SARs           ($)           ($)*
                                                                     ($)
<S>                         <C>      <C>              <C>         <C>          <C>        <C>           <C>            <C>       

J.  R, Brunson
President & CEO              1997     $158,543          $0          - 0 -       - 0 -       - 0 -         - 0 -         $16,187
                             1996     $152,645          $0          - 0 -       - 0 -       - 0 -         - 0 -         $15,419
                             1995     $147,939        $40,360       - 0 -       - 0 -       - 0 -         - 0 -         $16,000

M.  L.  Murdock
Sr.  Vice President          1997     $104,740          $0          - 0 -       - 0 -       - 0 -         - 0 -         $11,930
                             1996     $100,547          $0          - 0 -       - 0 -       - 0 -         - 0 -         $11,537
                             1995     $ 96,633        $26,457       - 0 -       - 0 -       - 0 -         - 0 -         $12,378
</TABLE>

     *"All other Compensation"  includes the following for J. R. Brunson for the
years  1997,  1996,  and  1995,  respectively:  Contributions  to  the  401  (K)
Retirement Plan of $7,929,  $7,500, and $8,250; Dollar value of benefit for term
life insurance of $1,970,  $1,779,  and $1,61 0; and Deferred  Directors Fees of
$6,290,  $6,140,  and $6,140.  For Mr.  Murdock,  the totals for the years 1997,
1996,  and 1995  are  401(K)  contributions  of  $5,237,  $5,027,  $6,149,  life
insurance benefit of $403, $370 and $339, and Deterred Directors Fees of $6,290,
$6,140 and $5,890.

                        REPORT OF COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

     The Compensation  Committee of the Board of Directors is currently composed
of Lewis  Avinger,  Jerry B.  Brunson,  and  Winfield M. Baird,  all of whom are
outside directors of the Company.  (Mr. Jerry B. Brunson serves as Vice-Chairman
of the Board of Directors,  which is a non-executive position). The Committee is
responsible  for  recommending  officers,  the salaries of officers,  directors'
fees, and officer bonuses to the Board of Directors for full consideration.  The
committee members receive director fees as described in this Proxy Statement and
do not  receive  any  other  compensation  from the  Company.  The  Compensation
Committee has provided the following report:

     The objective of the Company's executive  compensation policy is to attract
and retain quality talent,  which is critical to the success of the Company, and
to  maintain  an  appropriate  relationship  between  executive  pay and Company
performance.  The Company's compensation policy is relatively simple,  utilizing
annual base  salaries  and bonuses  based upon Company  performance.  The system
provides for moderate base salaries, but offers opportunities for executives and
supervisors to earn incentive compensation based on Company results. The Company
does not utilize stock options, rights, or other forms of long - term incentives
in its  compensation  scheme.  Compensation has been and will continue to be tax
deductible. No executive officer will earn in excess of $ 1,000,000.

                                        7

<PAGE>



     Executive  salary  levels  within the  Company  reflect a number of factors
including the size and location of the Company, and the length of service of the
executives.  Bonuses  are  discretionary  with  the  Board,  and  require  as  a
precondition  that Company  results for a given year reach a threshold  level of
return on  shareholders'  equity.  The  threshold is determined by the Executive
Committee and takes into  consideration  a number of factors  including  current
financial markets and historic patterns of Company operations.

     The base salary of the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr.
J. R.  Brunson,  results  from a base  amount  set many  years  ago and has been
adjusted for annual raises.  Mr. Brunson has served as President  since 1978 and
has been  employed by the Company  since 1953.  The 1997 base salary  reflects a
3.8% raise over the 1996 base amount.  Bonuses awarded in a given year are based
on the  previous  years  results.  There were no bonuses  awarded in 1997 to the
Company's  President,  Sr.  Vice-President  M.L.  Murdock,  or  other  executive
officers and supervisors,  due to performance  thresholds not being met in 1996.
1997 results were improved,  and it is anticipated  that moderate bonuses in the
3% range will be awarded to the  Company's  executive  officers and  supervisory
personnel.  Mr. Brunson and Mr. Murdock were the only executive  officers of the
Company whose annual compensation exceeded $100,000 in 1997.

     Contributions to executive  officers under the Company's 401(K)  Retirement
Plan are made on the same basis as are  contributions to all other  participants
in the Plan.

     The Committee does not anticipate any significant  changes in the Company's
executive  compensation  during 1998.  There are no plans to integrate  options,
rights or other forms of long-term incentives.  The Company does not provide for
long-term employment contracts or severance agreements. Bonuses will continue to
be  performance-  based.  The Committee  believes that the Company's  salary and
incentive  compensation  programs are  competitive  and appropriate for National
Security.

     Lewis Avinger
     Jerry B. Brunson
     Winfield Baird

           COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

     The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is currently comprised
of Lewis  Avinger,  Winfield  Baird,  and Jerry B. Brunson.  Mr. Avinger and Mr.
Baird are outside directors.  Mr. Brunson serves as Vice - Chairman of the Board
of Directors,  which is a non-executive  position. The Committee members receive
director fees as described in this Proxy  Statement and do not receive any other
compensation  from the  Company.  During  1997  Mr.  Avinger  received  director
compensation of $6,290.00;  Mr. Baird's  director  compensation in the amount of
$6,290.00 was deferred; and Mr. Brunson's director compensation in the amount of
$6,290.00 was deferred.

                                EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
     401 (K) Plan
     The Company  contributes  an amount  equal to twice the  employees'  salary
deferral  amounts,  not  exceeding  5% of  total  compensation  of all  eligible
employees,  to a  Retirement  Savings  Plan  established  under  ss.401 K of the
Internal  Revenue Service Code of 1986 (the "Company 401 (K) Plan").  All full -
time employees who have completed  1,000 hours of service on either January 1 or
July 1 are  eligible to  participate.  The Company  contributions  are  annually
allocated among the participants'  plan accounts based on compensation  received
during  the year for  which  contribution  is made.  Amounts  allocated  vest as
scheduled in the Company 401 (K) Plan.  Benefits are generally payable only upon
termination, retirement, disability or death.


                                        8

<PAGE>



COMPANY PERFORMANCE

     The following graph shows a five year comparison of cumulative  returns for
the Company,  the NASDAQ  STOCK  MARKET  INDEX  (U.S.) and the NASDAQ  Insurance
Stocks Index.  The cumulative  total return is based on change in the year - end
stock price plus reinvested dividends for each of the periods shown.

                 COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN

                                             NASDAQ            NASDAQ
 Measurement period                          STOCK MARKET       INSURANCE
(Fiscal year Covered)   NATIONAL SECURITY   (U.S.) INDEX       STOCK INDEX

            1992               100.00            100.00            100.00
            1993               129.49            114.80            106.96
            1994               130.53            112.21            100.68
            1995               105.84            158.70            143.01
            1996               113.57            195.19            163.03
            1997               164.62            239.53            239.18


                  STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

     The following table sets forth those persons who beneficially  owned, as of
March  1,  1998,  five  percent  or more of the  Company  Common  Stock.  Unless
otherwise noted, each beneficial owner has sole voting and investment powers.

                                                 Amount and Nature
                                                  of Beneficial       Percentage
                                                 Ownership of              of
Name and Address                                Company Common Stock     Class

Brunson Properties, a partnership                         302,547          13%
     (W.L. Brunson Estate)
     Elba, Alabama 36323

SunTrust Bank as Trustee,                                 233,938          10%
National Security Retirement Savings Plan,
Chattanooga, TN 37402

Franklin Resources, Inc.                                  232,907          10%
777 Mariners Island Blvd.
San Mateo, CA 94403

                             INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

     The  firm  of  Dudley,  Hopton-Jones,  Sims  &  Freeman,  certified  public
accountants,  is the independent accountant for the Company and its subsidiaries
and has performed the audit function for the year ending  December 31, 1997. The
independent  accountant is appointed by the Board of Directors  after  receiving
the recommendation of the Audit Committee.  Such appointment is customarily made
in July of each year.  Consequently,  the independent  accountant for the fiscal
year ending  December  31, 1998 has not yet been  appointed.  No plans have been
made for a representative of Dudley, Hopton-Jones,  Sims & Freeman to be present
at the Annual Meeting.







                                        9

<PAGE>


                     DIRECTOR AND OFFICER SECURITIES REPORTS

     The Federal  Securities laws require the Company's  directors and executive
officers to file with the Securities and Exchange  Commission initial reports of
ownership and reports of changes in ownership of the Company's  common stock. To
the best of the  Company's  knowledge,  all persons  subject to these  reporting
requirements filed the required reports on a timely basis.

                             STOCKHOLDERS' PROPOSALS

     In order for a proposal by a  stockholder  of the Company to be eligible to
be included in the proxy state ment and proxy form for the Annual  Stockholders'
Meeting to be held in 1999,  the proposal must be received by the Company at its
headquarters, 661 E. Davis Street, Elba, Alabama 36323, on or before January 14,
1999.  The Board of Directors  will review any  stockholder  proposals  that are
filed to determine whether such proposals meet applicable criteria for inclusion
in the 1999 Proxy Statement for consideration at the 1999 Annual Meeting.

                          TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

     The Company is the  Transfer  Agent and  Registrar  for the Company  Common
Stock.

                     ANNUAL REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT

     A copy of the Company's  Annual Report to Stockholders  for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1997 accompanies this Proxy Statement.  Additional  copies of
the  Company's  Annual  Report to  Stockholders,  and/or a copy of the Company's
annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission may
be obtained by written request to the Chief Financial  Officer of the Company at
the address indicated above.

                                  OTHER MATTERS

     The Board of Directors of the Company does not know any other matters to be
brought before the meeting. If any other matters,  not now known,  property come
before  the  Meeting  or any  adjournments  thereof,  the  persons  named in the
enclosed  proxy,  or their  substitutes,  will vote the proxy in accordance with
their judgement in such matters.


Date: April 14, 1998


                                             THE NATIONAL SECURITY
                                                 GROUP, INC.
                                                J. R. Brunson
                                                  President





                                       10

<PAGE>

                        THE NATIONAL SECURITY GROUP, INC
PROXY                 MAY 14, 1998 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS         PROXY

     The undersigned  hereby appoints J.R. Brunson,  and Bette Ham, or either of
them,  as  Proxies,  each with  power to  appoint  his  substitute,  and  hereby
authorizes  them to represent and to vote, as  designated  hereon,  and in their
discretion  with  respect  to any other  business  properly  brought  before the
meeting, all the shares of stock of The National Security Group, Inc., which the
undersigned is entitled to vote at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held
on May 14, 1998 or any adjournment thereof.
     THIS PROXY IS  SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS.  This proxy,
when  properly  executed,  will be voted in the  manner  directed  herein by the
undersigned  shareholder(s).  If no direction  is made,  the Proxy will be voted
"FOR" the election of all nominees for the  directors  and the  proposals on the
reverse side hereof.

                                 Signature 
                                           ---------------------------
                                 Date
                                           --------------------------- 
                                 Signature
                                           ---------------------------
                                 Date 
                                           ---------------------------

     Please  sign,  date and return  this  proxy in the  enclosed  postage  paid
envelope.  (Please sign exactly as your name appears  above.  If shares are held
jointly,  each  shareholder  should  sign.  If  signing as  attorney,  executor,
administrator, trustee, or guardian, please give full title)

1.  The election as directors of the FOUR nominees listed below to serve for 
3-year terms expiring in 2001.

   --  For all nominees listed below (except as marked to the contrary below)

   --  Withhold authority to vote for all nominees listed below

INSTRUCTION:  To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike
through the nominee's name on the list below:

LEWIS AVINGER     CAROLYN BRUNSON    CRAIG S. PITTMAN    JAMES B. SAXON

2. In their discretion on such other business as may properly be brought before
the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

<PAGE>



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