Principal                                      Principal Life
  (Logo)     Financial                         Insurance Company
             Group
                                               Princor Financial
                                               Services Corporation


May 15, 2000




Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20549


Principal Life Insurance Company Separate Account B
Flexible Variable Annuity Contract File No. 33-74232


Pursuant to Rule  497(j)  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended,  the
Separate  Account hereby  certifies that the form of prospectus  that would have
been filed on behalf of the  Separate  Account  pursuant to Rule 497(c) upon the
effectiveness of the Post-Effective  Amendments referenced above to the Separate
Account's  Registration  Statement on Form N-4 (the "Amendment")  would not have
differed  from that  contained  in the  Amendments,  which  are the most  recent
amendments  on such  Registration  Statement  and was  filed  electronically  on
April 25, 2000.

Comments  or  questions  concerning  this  certificate  may be directed to Kathy
Arterburn at 1-800-451-5447, ext. 75477.

Sincerely

/s/ Kathy Arterburn

Kathy Arterburn
Registered Products Associate

/ksa

The Principal Home Office: Des Moines, Iowa 50392-0200 (800) 451-5447
Securities offered through Princor Financial Services Corporation, Des Moines,
IA 50392-0200 FAX (515) 248-4745
Principal Life and Princor are members of the Principal Financial Group