NATIONAL SECURITY GROUP INC
DEF 14A, 1999-04-12
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 13,1999

     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 13, 1999 at 10:00 a.m. (Central Time) for the following purposes:

     1. To elect three (3) 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 properly come before the Annual
        Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

     Only  Stockholders  of record at the close of  business  on April 13,  1999
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 13,1999

                                                          
<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 13,
1999 at the principal  executive offices of the Company (the "Annual  Meeting").
At the Annual  Meeting,  the  Company's  stockholders will vote to elect three
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 13, 1999.

                                     GENERAL

     This Proxy Statement is being mailed to holders of the Company Common Stock
on or about April 13, 1999, 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 13, 1999, at 10:00 a.m. (Central Time).

     At the Annual  Meeting,  the  stockholders  of the Company will elect three
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 13,  1999,  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 2,051,311 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
nonvote 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. Three directors will be elected at
the Annual Meeting.  Winfield Baird,  Fred D. Clark,  Jr., and M.L. Murdock (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 recom mends.

     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.31,1998         Since*

Winfield Baird       Director                           66              1964
Fred D. Clark, Jr.   Director                           38              1996
M.L. Murdock         Sr. Vice President & Director      56              1976


           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.31,1998        Since*               Present Term


Lewis Avinger               76              1984                      2001
Carolyn Brunson             71              1978                      2001
J. R. Brunson               70              1962                      2000
D. M. English               80              1947                      2000
Craig S. Pittman            42              1992                      2001
James B. Saxon              64              1982                      2001
Walter P. Wilkerson         51              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

     WINFIELD  BAIRD is currently  the  President  and a director of  Investment
Counselors of Alabama, Inc., of Birmingham, Alabama. He previously was a partner
in J. C. Bradford & Co.

     FRED D. CLARK,  JR., is currently  President of The Clark  Company,  LLC in
Montgomery,  Alabama.  He was formerly Executive Director of the Alabama Farmers
Federation,  President of Alabama Rural Electric  Association  of  Cooperatives,
Montgomery, Alabama, 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.

     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.



                                        3

<PAGE>


Continuing Directors

     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.

     J. R. BRUNSON has served as President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of the
Company 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.

     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.

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

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

     WALTER P.  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 1998.

     Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee, whose members have been
appointed annually by the Board of Directors,  is currently composed of Craig S.
Pittman, Fred D. Clark,Jr. and James B. Saxon . 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 1998.

     Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is comprised of Lewis Avinger, Fred D.
Clark, Jr., James B. Saxon 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 twice in fiscal year 1998.



                                        4

<PAGE>

     Nominating  Committee.  The  Nominating  Committee  is comprised of Fred D.
Clark,  Jr.,  Carolyn  E.  Brunson  and  Craig S.  Pittman.  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 1998.

                             DIRECTORS' REMUNERATION

     Remuneration  of  directors is usually  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                         .05%

Carolyn E. Brunson                319,926 (2)                   15.59%

James B. Saxon                     19,260                         .93%

Winfield Baird                     98,258                        4.79%

M.L. Murdock                        1,200                         .06%

J. R. Brunson                     110,255                        5.37%

D. M. English                      98,022                        4.78%

Walter P. Wilkerson                 5,695                         .27%


                                        5

<PAGE>


Craig Pittman                      20,282                         .97%

Fred Clark, Jr.                     1,000                         .05%

Directors and Officers
(as a group, 13 persons
including persons named           694,664                       33.86%
above)

Other  closely held stock 
(as a group,  numbering  34
including  immediate family
members of some directors,
emeritus directors,  
affiliated entities, and
employee retirement plan)         717,118                       34.96%

    (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:
     Mrs. Carolyn Brunson is the widow of the deceased brother of J.R.  Brunson,
and mother of William L. Brunson,  Jr.,  Assistant  Vice President and Assistant
Secretary of the Company and  President of the Life Company.  Mr. J.R.  Brunson,
Mr. D. M. English and Mr.  James B. Saxon are first  cousins . Mr. J. R. Brunson
is the father of Jack E. Brunson,  President of the Casualty Company.  Mr. Craig
S.  Pittman  is the  nephew of Mr. J. R.  Brunson.  Mr.  Pittman is a partner of
Pittman,  Pittman , Carwie and Fuquay,  Attorneys  at Law,  which firm  provided
legal  services  to a  subsidiary  of the  Company  during  1998.  See  also the
discussion  under the heading  "Compensation  Committee  Interlocks  and Insider
Participation."

                             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, 1998. 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, 1999 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.



                                        6

<PAGE>



                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
     The following table sets forth the remuneration paid by the Company and its
subsidiaries  during the fiscal year ended  December  31,  1998,  to each of its
executive officers whose annual compensation exceeds $100,000.

                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a)                (b)    (c)     (d)    (e)     (f)        (g)     (h)    (i)
                                               
Name                                     Other Restricted                  All 
and Principal            Base           Annual   Stock     Options LTIP   Other
Position           Year Salary   Bonus   Comp.   Award(s)   SARs  Payouts Comp.*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               
J.R. Brunson                                                                
President & CEO    1998 $161,720 $11,756  0         0       0        0   $13,511
                   1997 $158,543    $0    0         0       0        0   $16,187
                   1996 $152,645    $0    0         0       0        0   $15,419

M.L. Murdock                                                                  
Sr. Vice President 1998 $107,071  $7,766  0         0       0        0   $10,052
                   1997 $104,740    $0    0         0       0        0   $11,930
                   1996 $100,547    $0    0         0       0        0   $11,537

     *"All Oher  Compensation"  includes the following for J. R. Brunson for the
years  1998,  1997,  and  1996,  respectively:  Contributions  to  the  401  (K)
Retirement Plan of $4,987,  $7,929, and $7,500; Dollar value of benefit for term
life insurance of $2,184,  $1,970,  and $1,779;  and Deferred  Directors Fees of
$6,340,  $6,290,  and $6,140.  For Mr.  Murdock,  the totals for the years 1998,
1997,  and 1996  are  401(K)  contributions  of  $3,272,  $5,237,  $5,027,  life
insurance benefit of $440, $403 and $370, and Deferred Directors Fees of $6,340,
$6,290 and $6,140.

                        REPORT OF COMPENSATION COMMITTEE


     The Compensation  Committee of the Board of Directors is currently composed
of Craig S.  Pittman,  Fred D. Clark,  Jr., and James B. Saxon,  all of whom are
outside directors of the Company.  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  Committee  considers  the  primary  responsibility  of  the  company's
executive  officers  as being to ensure the  long-term  health and growth of the
Company.  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.  Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code limits
the Company's tax deduction for compensation paid to certain executive  officers
that  does not  qualify  as  "performance-based"  to $1  million  per  executive
officer.  Compensation  has been and will  continue to be tax  deductible  as no
executive officer will earn in excess of $ 1 million.

                                        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  considera tion 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 1998 base salary  reflects a 2%
increase over the 1997 base amount. Bonuses awarded in a given year are based on
the previous years  results.  Cash bonuses of  approximately  7% were awarded in
1998 to the Company's  President,  Sr.  Vice-President  M.L. Murdock,  and other
executive  officers and supervisors,  based on the operating results of 1997. It
is anticipated  that there will be no bonuses awarded in 1999 due to performance
thresholds  not being met in 1998 . Mr.  Brunson and Mr.  Murdock  were the only
executive officers of the Company whose annual compensation exceeded $100,000 in
1998.

     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 1999.  Bonuses will continue to be  performance-
based.  There  are no plans  to  integrate  options,  rights  or other  forms of
long-term  incentives.  The Committee  believes  that the  Company's  salary and
incentive  compensation  programs are  competitive  and appropriate for National
Security.

     Craig S. Pittman
     Fred Clark, Jr.
     James B. Saxon

           COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

     The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is currently comprised
of Craig S. Pittman,  Fred D. Clark,  Jr. , and James B. Saxon,  all of whom are
outside  directors.  The Committee members receive director fees as described in
this Proxy Statement and do not receive any other compensation from the Company.
During 1998 Mr. Pittman  received  director  compensation of $5,205.00 which was
deferred;  Mr. Clark received director  compensation in the amount of $6,340.00,
and Mr. Saxon's director compensation was in the amount of $6,840.00.

                                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 sec.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

            1993               100.00            100.00            100.00
            1994               100.80             97.75             94.13
            1995                81.74            138.26            133.71
            1996                87.70            170.01            152.42
            1997               127.13            208.58            223.58
            1998               102.31            293.21            198.78


                  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               15.59%
(W.L. Brunson Estate)
Elba, Alabama 36323

SunTrust Bank as Trustee,                         193,798                9.45%
National Security Retirement Savings Plan,
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402

J.R. Brunson                                      110,255                5.37%
1192 Pine Circle
Elba, Alabama 36323



                                        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  statement and proxy form for the Annual  Stockholders'
Meeting to be held in 2000,  the proposal must be received by the Company at its
headquarters, 661 E. Davis Street, Elba, Alabama 36323, on or before January 13,
2000.  The Board of Directors  will review any  stockholder  proposals  that are
filed to determine whether such proposals meet applicable criteria for inclusion
in the 2000 Proxy Statement for consideration at the 2000 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, 1998 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 13, 1999

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



                                       10

<PAGE>


                        THE NATIONAL SECURITY GROUP, INC
PROXY                 MAY 13, 1999 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 13, 1999 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 THREE nominees listed below to serve for 
3-year terms expiring in 2002.

   --  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:

WINFIELD BAIRD                 FRED D. CLARK, JR.             M.L. MURDOCK

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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