SEC 1745 POTENTIAL PERSONS WHO ARE TO RESPOND TO THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION
(6-00)   CONTAINED IN THIS FORM ARE NOT REQUIRED TO RESPOND UNLESS THE FORM
         DISPLAYS A CURRENTLY VALID OMB CONTROL NUMBER.

                                                    OMB APPROVAL
                                                    OMB Number: 3235-0145
                                                    Expires: October 31, 2002
                                                    Estimated average burden
                                                    hours per response. . . 14.9

                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                    UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                          (AMENDMENT NO. ___________)*

                             UNITED FIRE & CASUALTY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                                  PREFERRED
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    910331305
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                DECEMBER 31, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:

[X]  Rule 13d-1(b)

[ ]  Rule 13d-1(c)

[ ]  Rule 13d-1(d)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).

CUSIP No. 910331305

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             1.    Names of Reporting Persons.

                   I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).

                   FLEETBOSTON FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                   05-0341324
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

             2.    Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See
                   Instructions)

                   (a)  [ ]
                   (b)  [ ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

             3.    SEC Use Only

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

             4.    Citizenship or Place of Organization.

                   100 FEDERAL STREET
                   BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02110
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         5.    Sole Voting Power 137,000
                         -------------------------------------------------------
Number of
Shares                   6.    Shared Voting Power 0
Beneficially             -------------------------------------------------------
Owned by
Each Reporting           7.    Sole Dispositive Power 137,000
Person With              -------------------------------------------------------

                         8.    Shared Dispositive Power 0
                         -------------------------------------------------------

             9.    Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
                   137,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

             10.   Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain
                   Shares (See Instructions)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

             11.   Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) 5.70%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

             12.   Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) HC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITEM 1.

                  (a)     Name of Issuer UNITED FIRE & CASUALTY

                  (b)     Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices
                          118 SECOND AVENUE, SE, CEDAR RAPIDS, IA 52407

ITEM 2.

                  (a)     Name of Person Filing FLEETBOSTON FINANCIAL
                          CORPORATION

                          Address of Principal Business Office or, if none,
                          Residence

                  (b)     100 FEDERAL STREET
                          BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02110

                  (c)     Citizenship MASSACHUSETTS

                  (d)     Title of Class of Securities PREFERRED

                  (e)     CUSIP Number 910331305

ITEM 3.           IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 240.13d-1(b)
                  OR 240.13d-2(b) OR (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:

                  (a)     [ ]      Broker or dealer registered under section 15
                                   of the Act (15 U.S.C.78o).

                  (b)     [ ]      Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the
                                   Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

                  (c)     [ ]      Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)
                                   (19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

                  (d)     [ ]      Investment company registered under section
                                   8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940
                                   (15 U.S.C 80a-8).

                  (e)     [ ]      An investment adviser in accordance with
                                   Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

                  (f)     [ ]      An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in
                                   accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)
                                   (F);

                  (g)     [X]      A parent holding company or control person in
                                   accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)
                                   (ii)(G);

                  (h)     [ ]      A savings associations as defined in
                                   Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit
                                   Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);

                  (i)     [ ]      A church plan that is excluded from the
                                   definition of an investment company under
                                   section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company
                                   Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);

                  (j)     [ ]      Group, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1
                                   (b)(1)(ii)(J).

ITEM 4.           OWNERSHIP.

Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage
of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.

                  (a)     Amount beneficially owned: 137,000

                  (b)     Percent of class: 5.70%

                  (c)     Number of shares as to which the person has:

                          (i)      Sole power to vote or to direct the vote
                                   137,000

                          (ii)     Shared power to vote or to direct the vote 0

                          (iii)    Sole power to dispose or to direct the
                                   disposition of 137,000

                          (iv)     Shared power to dispose or to direct the
                                   disposition of 0

Instruction. For computations regarding securities which represent a right to
acquire an underlying security see Section 240.13d3(d)(1).

ITEM 5.           OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS

If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof
the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five
percent of the class of securities, check the following [ ].

Instruction: Dissolution of a group requires a response to this item.

ITEM 6.           OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER
                  PERSON.

If any other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to direct
the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such
securities, a statement to that effect should be included in response to this
item and, if such interest relates to more than five percent of the class, such
person should be identified. A listing of the shareholders of an investment
company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the beneficiaries
of employee benefit plan, pension fund or endowment fund is not required.

ITEM 7.           IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH
                  ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING
                  COMPANY

If a parent holding company has filed this schedule, pursuant to Rule
13d-1(b)(ii)(G), so indicate under Item 3(g) and attach an exhibit stating the
identity and the Item 3 classification of the relevant subsidiary. If a parent
holding company has filed this schedule pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c) or Rule
13d-1(d), attach an exhibit stating the identification of the relevant
subsidiary. EXHIBIT A ATTACHED

ITEM 8.           IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP

If a group has filed this schedule pursuant to Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J),
so indicate under Item 3(j) and attach an exhibit stating the identity and Item
3 classification of each member of the group. If a group has filed this schedule
pursuant to Section 240.13d-1(c) or Section 240.13d-1(d), attach an exhibit
stating the identity of each member of the group.

ITEM 9.           NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP

Notice of dissolution of a group may be furnished as an exhibit stating the date
of the dissolution and that all further filings with respect to transactions in
the security reported on will be filed, if required, by members of the group, in
their individual capacity. See Item 5.

ITEM 10.          CERTIFICATION

                  (a)     The following certification shall be included if the
                          statement is filed pursuant to Section 240.13d-1(b):

                                   By signing below I certify that, to the best
                                   of my knowledge and belief, the securities
                                   referred to above were acquired and are held
                                   in the ordinary course of business and were
                                   not acquired and are not held for the purpose
                                   of or with the effect of changing or
                                   influencing the control of the issuer of the
                                   securities and were not acquired and are not
                                   held in connection with or as a participant
                                   in any transaction having that purpose or
                                   effect.

                  (b)     The following certification shall be included if the
                          statement is filed pursuant to Section 240.13d-1(c):

                                   By signing below I certify that, to the best
                                   of my knowledge and belief, the securities
                                   referred to above were not acquired and are
                                   not held for the purpose of or with the
                                   effect of changing or influencing the control
                                   of the issuer of the securities and were not
                                   acquired and are not held in connection with
                                   or as a participant in any transaction having
                                   that purpose or effect.

                                    SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

                               FEBRUARY 14, 2003
                               -----------------
                               Date

                               /s/ ERNEST L. PUSCHAVER
                               -----------------------
                               Signature

                               ERNEST L. PUSCHAVER, CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER
                               ---------------------------------------------
                               Name/Title

The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf the
statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the statement is signed
on behalf of a person by his authorized representative other than an executive
officer or general partner of the filing person, evidence of the
representative's authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with
the statement, provided, however, that a power of attorney for this purpose
which is already on file with the Commission may be incorporated by reference.
The name and any title of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or
printed beneath his signature.

NOTE: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Section 240.13d-7 for other
parties for whom copies are to be sent.

ATTENTION: INTENTIONAL MISSTATEMENTS OR OMISSIONS OF FACT CONSTITUTE FEDERAL
           CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS (See 18 U.S.C. 1001)

http://www.sec.gov/smbus/forms/13g.htm
Last update: 06/20/2000

                             UNITED FIRE & CASUALTY

                                    EXHIBIT A



SUBSIDIARY ACQUIRING SECURITIES                    CLASSIFICATION
-----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                
Fleet Investment Advisors, Inc.                         Bank