FORM 5 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b). Form 3 Holdings Reported Form 4 Transactions Reported

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ANNUAL 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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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * KARFUNKEL MICHAEL 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol Amtrust Financial Services, Inc. [AFSI] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director __X__ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O AMTRUST FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., 59 MAIDEN LANE 3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year) 12/31/2008 (Street) NEW YORK, NY 10038 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting (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 at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock             9,033,000 D   Common Stock 08/01/2008   G 3,992,857 (1) D $ 0 0 I See Footnote (2) Common Stock 08/01/2008   G 3,992,857 A $ 0 5,812,500 I See Footnote (3)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

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SEC 2270 (9-02)

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 at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
KARFUNKEL MICHAEL C/O AMTRUST FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. 59 MAIDEN LANE NEW YORK, NY 10038	  X	  X	Â	Â

Signatures

/s/ Michael Karfunkel		02/17/2009
**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)	Charitable contribution of 3,992,857 shares of Common Stock to Hod Foundation.
(2)	These shares were owned by New Gulf Holdings, Inc. ("NGH"), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gulf USA Corporation ("Gulf"). The Reporting Person owns 50.0% of Gulf. With respect to the shares owned by NGH, the Reporting Person shares voting and investment power with George Karfunkel.
(3)	Shares held by Hod Foundation, a charitable foundation controlled by the Reporting Person, which owns 5,812,500 shares of common stock. The Reporting Person does not have a beneficial interest in the shares owned by Hod Foundation and, therefore, disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares of common stock.

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