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 * LAROCCO MICHAEL   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol State Auto Financial CORP [STFC] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) President, CEO (Last) (First) (Middle) 518 E. BROAD STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 03/01/2018 (Street) COLUMBUS, OH 43215 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 03/02/2018 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 03/01/2018   A   8,363 (1) A $ 0 49,531.68 (2) D   Common Shares withou Par Value 03/01/2018   A   20,000 (3) A $ 0 69,531.68 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

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
LAROCCO MICHAEL 518 E. BROAD STREET COLUMBUS, OH 43215	X		President, CEO

Signatures

/s/Michael E.LaRocco by Melissa A.Centers, attorney in fact pursuant to POA filed with Commission 2/23/16.		03/05/2018
**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)	Represents a Restricted Stock Grant of 8,363 shares issued on 3/1/18, which has a time-based vesting over a 3 year period, with 1/3 vesting each year on December 31.
(2)	Includes the following acquisitions: 346.583 shares acquired in December 2017 through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan; 39.388 shares acquired in September 2017 and 35.884 shares acquired in December 2017 through the State Auto Financial 401(k) Plan; 119.6277 and 111.4375 shares acquired through Restricted Dividend Reinvestment; 325.663 shares acquired through Broker as dividend reinvestment.
(3)	Represents a Deferred Stock Unit Award of 20,000 shares issued on 3/1/18 which vests over a 3 year period, with 1/3 vesting each year on the anniversary of the grant date.

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