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 *
Garland Kim Burton
  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)
08/19/2016
(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 03/01/2018   A   3,171 A $ 27.65 65,404.984 (1) D  
Common Shares without par value 03/01/2018   A   10,000 A $ 0 75,404.984 (2) D  
Common Shares without par value 08/19/2016   A   215.863 A $ 0 75,404.984 (3) D  
Common Shares without par value 09/02/2016   A   1,804.08 A $ 0 75,404.984 (4) 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
Garland Kim Burton
518 E. BROAD STREET
COLUMBUS, OH 43215
      Senior Vice President  

Signatures

 /s/Kim Burton Garland by Melissa A. Centers, attorney in fact pursuant to POA filed with the Commission on 11/16/15.   03/02/2018
**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 the following acquisitions: A restricted Stock Grant of 3,171 shares was issued on 3/1/18 ,which vest over a 3 year period, with 1/3 vesting each year on December 31. Also includes the following: 615.643 shares acquired on 6/30/17 and 330.145 shares acquired on 12/31/17 through the State Auto Financial Employee Stock Purchase Plan; includes 298.282 shares acquired through Broker as Reinvested shares; and 96.347 shares acquired as Restricted Dividend Reinvestment..Also include 1,148.283 shares acquired through the State Auto Financial 401(k) plan; and 10,185.361 shares acquired through the State Auto Non-qualified Deferred Comp Plan.
(2) Includes the following acquisitions: A restricted Stock Grant of 10,000 shares was issued on 3/1/18, which has a time-based vesting over a 4 year period, with 1/4 vesting each year on December 31.
(3) Includes shares acquired on 8/19/16 through an exchange into STFC stock in the State Auto Non-qualifed Deferred Comp Plan.
(4) Includes shares acquired on 9/2/16 through an exchange into STFC stock in the State Auto Non-qualifed Deferred Comp Plan.

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