InsurBanc rolls out product referral program forqualified agents
InsurBanc has introduced a new product referral program that allowsindependent insurance agencies to offer their clients access tofour banking products: a business Visa card, an equipmentlease-financing program, a personal Visa card and studentloans.

Qualified agencies can market the products via turnkey marketingprograms provided by InsurBanc, which handles all processing,applications and fulfillment. Qualified agencies earn a fee foreach referral resulting in a sale.
Agencies qualify by completing an online bank training program thatallows the agency to refer any of the offered products; providing aprofessional liability insurance certificate covering referralactivities; and signing a referral agreement.
InsurBanc is headquartered in Farmington, Conn., and is a member ofthe Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The bank, which operates in all50 states, was jointly developed by the Independent InsuranceAgents & Brokers of America and the W. R. Berkley Corp., aninsurance holding company. InsurBanc offers a complete line ofbusiness products and services for independent insurance agents,including acquisition and perpetuation financing, cash managementand remote deposit. InsurBanc also offers a full range of consumerbanking products such as free checking, certificates of deposit,home equity lines of credit and residential mortgages.
For more information, contact Susan Smith at 860-674-2305, orvisit www.insurbanc.com.

Irwin Siegel adds new business classes to social serviceprogram
Irwin Siegel Agency Inc. (ISA), a specialty underwriter of packageprograms for the social services field, recently added severalclasses to their program, including Head Start programs, communityaction agencies, Big Brother/Big Sister organizations, Boys andGirls Clubs and nonprofit rural transportation for the elderly ordisabled.
These new programs are written through member companies of AIG, anA+ rated carrier, and include:
o Comprehensive package policy, including property, generalliability, professional, abuse/molestation, crime, inland marineauto and umbrella
o Abuse/molestation limits of $1million/$1million in underlying;umbrella limits available in addition to underlying limits
o ISA support staff to ensure proper and timely claimshandling
o Special events coverage
o Attorneys specializing in industry-specific handling claims
Irwin Siegel Agency offers insurance solutions for provideragencies within the social service, developmental disabilities,addiction treatment and mental healthcare fields. Package programsinclude general and professional liability, abuse, auto, crime,property and umbrella. ISA programs are available exclusivelythrough independent agents and brokers.
For more information, visit www.siegelagency.com.Fireman's Fund offers expanded yachtcoverage
Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. is offering expanded yacht coverage toits prestige yacht and watercraft policies to protect againstuninsured/underinsured vessels, vermin damage and other exposures.The expanded coverage is offered for both uninsured andunderinsured watercraft.
Fireman's Fund also announced a lower electronics deductible,expanded coral reef and sea grass coverage, and protection in caseof total loss resulting from vermin damage. Vermin damage is ofparticular concern in the Pacific Northwest, where muskrats andotters may chew through exposed rubber portions of engine exhausts.Other expansions include protection against damage to mopeds andscooters, as well as passports and other necessary forms ofidentification while passengers are on board.
These additions complement the pre-existing policies that featureagreed value (to protect against depreciation), coverage forcaptain and crew under admiralty law including the Jones Act,protection against pollution fines up to $25,000 including “suddenand accidental” events, and a very broad definition of personaleffects.
For more information, contact Janet Ruiz at 415-899-5381, orvisit www.firemansfund.com.Arrowhead announces new carrier for agent E&Oproduct
Arrowhead General Insurance Agency Inc. has announced that itsindependent property and casualty insurance agent E&O productwill be underwritten with an A- rated carrier by A. M. Best Co.Offered nationwide, it is designed for agencies with up to $25million in revenue. Eligible agencies include retailers,wholesalers, managing general agencies, specialist andhard-to-place firms.
Coverage is offered on both a primary and excess basis. Limits areup to $5 million for each claim with a minimum premium of $5,000.Policy highlights include punitive damages, predecessor firm andpersonal injury coverage. There is also a mediation provision,which reduces the retention.
Arrowhead General Insurance Agency Inc., headquartered in SanDiego, is an independent national insurance program manager forcommercial, personal and specialty products and is one of thelargest privately held general agencies in the United States.
For more information, contact the Arrowhead ProfessionalLiability Program at 201-944-7000 or visitarrowheadgrp.com.
Ohio Casualty introduces educator discount inOhio
Ohio Casualty announced its new Educator Discount Program in Ohio,available to its auto and home policyholders. All licensed teachersor school administrators in Ohio who obtain coverage from OhioCasualty will save 5 percent on their homeowner premium and 3percent on their auto premium, and may also qualify for furtherdiscounts.
Ohio Casualty insures 413 of the 795 public school districts inOhio, or approximately 52 percent of all public school districts.The company also insures 57 private schools in Ohio.
Ohio Casualty is also introducing the following discounts to itsnew comprehensive auto and home insurance products in Ohio:
o Customer loyalty discount for long-time policyholders
o New home buyer discount
o Home renovation discount
o Nonsmoker discount
o Expanded Ultra Plus endorsement for homeowners policies,including identity theft coverage and 125 percent replacement costcoverage
o Diminishing deductibles for homeowners and auto collisioncoverage to reward loss-free experience
o First-claim forgiveness up to $10,000 on auto policies
o Homeowners and auto package discount, with further cross-policydiscounts for policyholders who remain claims-free
Headquartered in Fairfield, Ohio, Ohio Casualty provides insurancein Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia,Washington DC, and West Virginia.
For more information, visit www.ocas.com.Lexington introduces LexElite Eco-Homeownerinsurance
Lexington Insurance Co., an AmericanInternational Group company, has introduced LexElite Eco-Homeownerinsurance for homeowners generating their own power usinggeothermal, solar or wind systems. LexElite Eco-Homeowner alsoprovides coverage for eco-landscaping–plantings used to provideshade or influence wind movement to reduce heating and coolingexpenses.
LexElite Eco-Homeowner, available as an endorsement to the LexElitehomeowners policy, responds to the unique risks faced by homeownerswho generate their own power and feed surplus energy back into thelocal power grid. If a homeowner's alternative energy system has acovered outage, LexElite Eco-Homeowner protects against lost incomegenerated from selling surplus energy back to the local energycompany and will cover the extra expenses incurred to purchasereplacement electricity. The policy also covers expenses forinspection, reconnection or permitting fees assessed by a utilityor governmental authority when the homeowner's alternative energysystem is brought back online.
For more information, contact David Valzania at 617-330-4419or [email protected].Schinnerer's nonprofit D&O announces policyenhancements
Victor O. Schinnerer & Co. Inc. announced several changes toits nonprofit D&O policy, including new classes of business andeasier renewals.
The new business classes include convention and visitors bureaus,drug and alcohol counseling and rehabilitation centers,organizations serving the developmentally disabled, court-appointedspecial advocates and community development corporations.
Schinnerer can provide quotes for most organizations without anapplication; agents need only make a request to bind. Organizationsmust have $7,500 or less in premium, $3 million or less in limitand no claims during the past three years. The nonprofit D&Oeasy renewal program is available to all classes of business exceptgolf clubs.
Schinnerer also is offering higher commissions to brokers on anynew D&O business that originates from the onlineapplication.
Victor O. Schinnerer & Co. Inc. is an underwriting manager ofprofessional liability and specialty insurance programs, servingmore than 55,000 insureds in various specialty industries throughindependent agents and brokers.
For more information, visit www.schinnerer.com.OTHER MARKET NEWS
o A subsidiary of Palisades Safety and InsuranceAssociation has agreed to acquire NationalAtlantic Holdings Corp., including its subsidiary,The Proformance Insurance Co. Palisades is thefifth-largest personal automobile carrier and second-largestindependent agency writer of automobile insurance in NewJersey.

The merger, subject to regulatory and National Atlanticshareholder approvals, will give Palisades and its independentagents the opportunity to expand product offerings beyond privatepassenger auto.
Palisades is a New Jersey-only, independent agency companyspecializing in providing competitive rates for New Jersey drivers.Insurance is underwritten by Palisades Safety and InsuranceAssociation and Palisades Insurance Co.
For more information, visit http://palisades.com.o Philadelphia Consolidated Holding Corp. (PHLY)has acquired Gillingham & Associates Inc., aprogram manager specializing in commercial property and casualtyinsurance for the outdoor recreation and hospitalityindustries.
Through this acquisition, PHLY expands its product offering for theoutdoor recreation and hospitality industries. In addition tocampgrounds, RV parks and guides and outfitters products, coveragewill now also be provided for fishing and hunting lodges, resortsand lodges, dude and guest ranches, hunting preserves, rod and gunclubs, hunting leases, bed and breakfasts, shooting ranges,whitewater rafting, ATV and snowmobile tours, and trap, skeet andsporting clay ranges.
For more information, contact Paula Negro at 800-873-4552, ext.3227. o AIG Private Client Group, a divisionof the personal lines property and casualty insurance subsidiariesof American International Group Inc, has expanded its HurricaneProtection Unit to serve its policyholders in Hillsborough County,Fla; Nassau County, N.Y.; and Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth andOcean Counties in New Jersey.
Launched in July 2006, the Hurricane Protection Unit providesclients with preseason disaster planning and post-storm response.These services are complimentary for eligible AIG Private ClientGroup policyholders.
AIG Private Client Group provides insurance products and servicesfor high-net-worth individuals and their families, with productsunderwritten by AIG member companies.
For more information, visit www.aig.com. oMerchants Mutual Insurance Co.'s recently formedsubsidiary, Merchants Preferred Insurance Co., isnow accepting business in Massachusetts.
Merchants Mutual and Merchants Preferred offer personal andcommercial insurance through a network of more than 600 independentinsurance agents throughout the Northeast and North Central UnitedStates. With corporate headquarters and regional operations inBuffalo, N.Y., Merchants operates offices in Hauppauge, N.Y.;Albany, N.Y.; Moorestown, N.J.; Manchester, N.H., and Columbus,Ohio.
For more information, visit www.merchantsgroup.com.

o St. Louis-based Equity One Franchisors LLChas launched GlobalGreen Insurance Agencies, aninsurance agency franchise that provides locally owned agenciesaccess to large insurance markets. The first three franchises arelocated in Chesterfield, Mo., Columbia, Mo. and Waterloo,Ill.
GlobalGreen offers agencies access to competitive nationwide andregional insurance markets, an agency management system, startupassistance, brand identity, inclusion in a contingency bonus plan,added agency resale value and additional revenue-generatingopportunities.
GlobalGreen maintains contracts with insurers including Travelers,Safeco, MetLife, AIG, Hartford, Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield,United Healthcare, Hawkeye Security, Prudential, Zurich and DeltaDental. Through these partnerships, GlobalGreen offers home, auto,long-term care, business/commercial, health, life, disability anddental insurance.
For more information, visit www.globalgreeninsuranceonline.com.

o Insurance Specialty Group LLC (ISG) haschanged the business name of its wholesale brokering operationsfrom Pacific Wholesale Insurance Brokers LLC toPacific Wholesale. ISG has also launchedPacific Underwriters and PacificReinsurance.

Pacific Wholesale is a property-casualty wholesale brokerageoperation that serves more than 2,800 retail agents from offices inBurbank, Calif., New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas,Farmington, Conn., and Boca Raton, Fla.
Pacific Underwriters operates as a managing general agent,underwriting proprietary property and casualty programs andoffering general underwriting contracts with highly rated domesticinsurance companies and Lloyd's of London.
Pacific Underwriters currently has several national proprietaryprograms, including package programs, for the automotive quick lubeindustry. Other programs include waste haulers, directors &officers, employment practices liability and related coverages formiddle-market companies and nonprofit organizations.
For more information, visit www.insurancespecialtygroup.com.

o New York-based Kinloch Holdings Inc., aninsurance brokerage holding company focusing on middle-marketclients, has opened a new Boston office that houses both anemployee benefits and property-casualty practice.
Alan Breitman will lead the employee benefits practice, KinlochConsulting Group Inc., and Charles Robinson will head theproperty-casualty practice, Kinloch Partners Inc.
The Boston office is located at 470 Atlantic Ave., Fourth Floor,Boston, MA 02210; 617-273-8104. Kinloch Consulting Group is afull-service consulting and brokerage practice that providesorganizations with talent to address their employee benefits needs.Kinloch Consulting Group is a Kinloch Holdings Inc. company.
For more information, visit www.kinlochcg.com.