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

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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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
BLACKBURN MARK A
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORP [STFC]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Senior Vice President
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
518 E. BROAD STREET
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
05/10/2005
(Street)

COLUMBUS, OH 43215
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(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 Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Shares without par value 05/10/2005   A(1)   0 A $ 0 6,038.193 (3) D  

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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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 Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) NQ $ 26.45 05/10/2005   A   11,123   05/10/2006(2) 05/09/2015 Common Shares 11,123 $ 0 (1) 11,123 D  
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)ISO $ 26.45 05/10/2005   A   3,377   05/10/2006(2) 05/09/2015 Common Shares 3,377 $ 0 (1) 3,377 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
BLACKBURN MARK A
518 E. BROAD STREET
COLUMBUS, OH 43215
      Senior Vice President  

Signatures

 Mark A. Blackburn by John R. Lowther, attorney in fact pursuant to a POA filed with the Commission on 3-8-00   07/18/2005
**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) field should be left blank, but due to a software defect, requires input.
(2) The options vest in three equal installments beginning on May 10, 2006.
(3) Includes the following acquisitions: 6.294 shares acquired in Dec 2004 and 6.103 shares acquired in March 2005 and 5.77 shares acquired in June 2005 under the dividend reinvestment feature of the State Auto Financial Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan; 0.057 shares acquired in Dec 2004 and 0.064 shares acquired in March 2005 and 0.555 shares acquired in June 2005 under the STFC Dividend Reinvestment Plan; 351.524 shares acquired in May 2005 through the State Auto Financial Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

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