STATE AUTO INSURANCE CO. JOINS TRUSTED CHOICE®
State Auto is 42nd Trusted Choice®Company Partner
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 14, 2006— The State Auto Insurance Companies have become the latest independent agency system insurance group to join the Trusted Choice® consumer brand movement. State Auto, based in Columbus, Ohio, offers personal and business insurance through 3,000 independent agencies in 27 states.
Trusted Choice® was launched in 2001 by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) and several independent agency companies to highlight the benefits independent agencies and brokerage firms offer consumers—choice of companies, customization of policies and advocacy support.
"We believe in our independent agents and recognize the unparalleled advice and value they offer consumers," says Bob Restrepo, chairman, president and CEO of the State Auto Insurance Companies. "Becoming part of the Trusted Choice® family is the latest demonstration of State Auto's commitment to our outstanding independent agency force, which has not wavered during our 85-year history. We look forward to working with our independent agency partners to utilize the Trusted Choice® brand, reminding consumers of the tremendous benefits of independent agents in making their insurance decisions."
“State Auto is an ideal company partner,” says Dave Evans, executive director of Trusted Choice®. “Their dedication to the independent agency system is so strong, and their relationships with their distribution force are so concrete that this partnership makes perfect sense. We will work together to promote the ideals, values and benefits of Trusted Choice® agents: advocacy, choice and customization.”
“State Auto is committed to Trusted Choice®,” says Robert A. Rusbuldt, Big “I” CEO. “State Auto was founded on the principle that local agents are neighbors who provide personal, professional and efficient service—that meshes perfectly with the mission of Trusted Choice®.”
Founded in 1921 as an independent agency company, State Auto continues to advocate the independent agency system as the best method of serving the needs of policyholders. State Automobile Mutual is one of only 14 insurance companies in the nation to have received an A+ (Superior) rating from the A.M. Best Company for more than 50 consecutive years, and State Auto Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:STFC) was named the 2006 "Best Managed Insurance Company in America" by Forbes magazine. More information can be found on the company's web site at www.stateauto.com.
Trusted Choice® is promoted through a combination of national, state-level and local-agency advertising, promotional and marketing activities; insurance company branding; public relations campaigns; and Internet communications.
Trusted Choice® educates consumers about the benefits of using independent agents and brokers for their insurance needs: choice of companies, customized policies and advocacy support. Trusted Choice® is the consumer marketing identity for nearly 6,800 independent insurance agencies, brokerage firms, their branch locations and 42 leading insurance companies, including State Auto.
Web address: www.TrustedChoice.com and www.StateAuto.com