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 *
CENTERS MELISSA 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)
12/31/2018
(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
Commons Shares without Par Value 12/31/2018   F(1)   892 D $ 34.04 15,587.006 (2) D  
Common Shares without Par Value 12/31/2018   F(1)   239 D $ 34.04 15,348.006 (2) 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
CENTERS MELISSA A
518 E. BROAD STREET
COLUMBUS, OH 43215
      Senior Vice President  

Signatures

 /s/Melissa A. Centers   01/02/2019
**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 common shares surrendered by the reporting person to STFC (or disposed to the issuer thereof) for payment of tax liability incident to prior stock awards of 2,006 and 10,000 common shares in which 668 shares out of the 2,006 shares vested on 12/31/18; and 2,500 shares out of the 10,000 shares vested on 12/31/18. Prior thereto, such disposition to the issuer had been approved by the STFC Compensation Committee pursuant to Rule 16b-3(e) and is therefore exempt from the provisions of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The price per share of 34.04 represents the closing price of STFC's common shares on December 31, 2018.
(2) Includes the following acquisitions: 9.484 shares acquired in March, 2018; 8.602 shares acquired in June, 2018; 10.314 shares acquired in September 2018; and 9.449 shares acquired in December 2018 as dividend reinvestment. Also includes 458.766 shares acquired in June, 2018 under the STFC Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Also includes 4.149 shares acquired in March 2018 and 4.03 shares acquired in June 2018 as Restricted Dividend Reinvestment..

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