HARLEYSVILLE INSURANCE JOINS TRUSTED CHOICE® BRAND MOVEMENT
Insurer shows strong support for agency system
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 8, 2005—Harleysville Insurance, a leading regional insurance company based in Harleysville, Pa., is the latest company to join the growing Trusted Choice® consumer brand movement.
Launched in 2001 by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) and several agency companies, Trusted Choice® is the national consumer brand created to educate consumers about the benefits of using independent insurance agents and brokers. The brand highlights the benefits consumers get—choice of companies, customized policies and advocacy support—when using an independent agency.
“We’re proud to demonstrate our ongoing support of the independent agency system with our commitment to the Trusted Choice® program,” says Michael L. Browne, Harleysville Insurance president and CEO. “The strong, productive relationships we have in place with our independent agency partners—our sole distribution channel—are at the core of Harleysville’s ability to deliver on our commitment to top-quality service and insurance coverage for our policyholders. We look forward to building on that solid foundation and further reinforcing for our customers the tremendous value independent agents bring to the insurance-buying process through our participation in Trusted Choice®.”
Today, nearly 5,100 independent agencies and brokerage firms throughout the country are participating in the brand program. They are joined by Harleysville and 30 other leading insurance companies.
“Harleysville Insurance is a well-respected company and a tremendous addition to our Trusted Choice® company partner roster,” says Ronald A. Smith, CPCU, brand program board chairman and president of Smith, Sawyer & Smith, Inc., a Rochester, Ind.-based Trusted Choice® agency. “The participation of Harleysville will add to the growing recognition of the brand among consumers, in the agent community, among agency system companies and throughout the entire insurance industry.”
“Harleysville Insurance clearly recognizes the importance of brand excellence to consumers and has always been a strong supporter of independent agents and brokers,” says Big “I” CEO Robert A. Rusbuldt. “Harleysville understands that Trusted Choice® agencies put their promises to consumers in a written Pledge of Performance. They value their distribution force and their policyholders and they believe that Trusted Choice® agencies are what consumers are looking for in an insurance advisor.”
Harleysville Insurance is a leading regional provider of insurance products and services for small- and mid-sized businesses, as well as for individuals, and ranks among the top 60 U.S. property-casualty insurance groups based on net written premiums. Harleysville Mutual Insurance Company owns 56 percent of Harleysville Group Inc. (Nasdaq: HGIC) a publicly traded holding company for nine regional property-casualty insurance companies collectively rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company.
Harleysville Insurance, which distributes its products exclusively through independent insurance agencies, currently operates in 32 eastern and midwestern states. Further information can be found on the company's Web site at http://www.harleysvillegroup.com.
Ten national insurers are Trusted Choice® company partners: Encompass Insurance, Markel Insurance Company, MetLife Auto & Home, Ohio Casualty Insurance, Drive Insurance from Progressive, Rain and Hail Insurance Service, Safeco Insurance and three Unitrin, Inc. divisions: Kemper Auto and Home, Unitrin Business Insurance and Unitrin Specialty.
A total of 20 regional or single-state domiciled insurers are Trusted Choice® company partners: Allied Insurance, America First Insurance, Capital Insurance Group, Central Insurance Companies, Colorado Casualty, Consumers Insurance, GoAmerica Auto Insurance, Golden Eagle Insurance, Hawkeye-Security Insurance, Harleysville Insurance, Indiana Insurance, Liberty Northwest Insurance Corp., The Main Street America Group, Maine Mutual Group, Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance, Montgomery Insurance, National Security Fire & Casualty, Peerless Insurance, Selective Insurance Group and Summit Insurance (R.I.). InsurBanc, a federal thrift bank created by the Big “I,” is a Trusted Choice® strategic partner.
The Trusted Choice® brand is being promoted nationally through a combination of national, state and agency advertising; company partner ingredient branding; public relations; member agency marketing; and Internet communications.
A nationwide ad flight will run from Sept. 12 to 25 on several widely watched cable networks. Click here to view the ad flight schedule.
All media direct consumers to www.TrustedChoice.com where they find the Trusted Choice® Agency Locator and consumer information on relevant insurance topics.
Trusted Choice® is the consumer marketing identity for nearly 5,100 independent insurance agencies and brokerage firms and their branch locations. These businesses offer individual and business consumers a choice of insurance companies and policies, customization of policy coverage, and consumer advocacy support. Web address: www.TrustedChoice.com.
###