Ownership Submission
FORM 5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Form 3 Holdings Reported
Form 4 Transactions Reported
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
BERDING JOHN B
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC [AFG]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
President of Subsidiary
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

301 EAST FOURTH STREET, 27TH FLOOR
3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2017
(Street)


CINCINNATI, OH 45202
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting
(check applicable line)

_X_ Form Filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form Filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock             53,554.67 (1) D  
Common Stock             233 I By Trust
Common Stock             5,154 I ESPP (2)
Common Stock             1,346.8 I 401(k) (3)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 2270 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
(A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Phantom Stock               (4)   (4) Common Stock
 
  1,075.0223 (4)
D
 

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
BERDING JOHN B
301 EAST FOURTH STREET
27TH FLOOR
CINCINNATI, OH 45202
  X     President of Subsidiary  

Signatures

John B. Berding By: Karl J. Grafe, as Attorney-in-Fact 02/13/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Includes 3,343.670 shares held in the Company's Dividend Reinvestment Plan as of 12/31/2017.
(2) Shares owned by the Reporting Person in the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP"). All ESPP information reporting herein is based on a plan statement dated as of 12/31/2017.
(3) Represents shares held in the Issuer's 401(k) Retirement and Savings Plan. The number of shares of Common Stock is based on a Plan Statement dated as of 12/31/2017.
(4) Represents amounts held by the Reporting Person in the Issuer's retirement plan based on a statement dated 12/31/2017. Each share is the economic equivalent of one share of common stock. Upon termination of employment or earlier, if so elected, the Reporting Person's account balances may be distributed, at the option of the Issuer, either in cash or in shares of the Issuer's common stock.

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