<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.2
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>y86559exv99w2.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CERTIFICATION OF CFO
<TEXT>
<PAGE>
Exhibit 99.2


                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of W. R. Berkley Corporation (the
"Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2003 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Eugene
G. Ballard, Senior Vice President - Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the
Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

            (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a)
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

            (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.

/s/ Eugene G. Ballard

Eugene G. Ballard
Senior Vice President - Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
May 15, 2003


A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been
provided to W. R. Berkley Corporation (the "Company") and will be retained by
the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff
upon request.



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
