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 *
English Steven Eugene
  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)
Vice President
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
518 E. BROAD STREET
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
12/15/2008
(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 12/15/2008   A(4)   5 (4) A $ 0 3,090.297 (3) D  

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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 $ 14.49 03/05/2009   A   12,025   03/05/2010(1) 03/04/2019 Common Shares 12,025 $ 0 (2) 12,025 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
English Steven Eugene
518 E. BROAD STREET
COLUMBUS, OH 43215
      Vice President  

Signatures

 Steven E. English by James A. Yano, attorney in fact pursuant to POA filed with commission 5-7-07.   03/09/2009
**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) The options vest in three equal annual installments beginning on March 5, 2010.
(2) Field should be left blank, but due to a software defect, requires imput.
(3) Includes the following acquisitions: 8.696 shares acquired in March 2008 and 12.599 shares acquired in June 2008 under the dividend reinvestment feature of the STFC Employee Stock Purchase Plan; 0.227 shares acquired in March 2008 and 0.271 shares acquired in June 2008 under the STFC Dividend Reinvestment Plan; and 357.720 shares acquired in May 2008 and 509.362 shares acquired in November 2008 through the State Auto Financial Corp. Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
(4) Transaction reflects an annual stock bonus award made to the reporting person and to all full time employees of the Issuer.

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