Insurance First Agency and Allied Insurance Team to Offer Cost-Competitive Insurance Policies; Insurance First Agency, Inc. Adds Allied Insurance to Lineup of Carriers

Business Wire, Jan 25, 2005

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Insurance First Agency, Inc., a full-service independent agency and member of the Title First Family of Companies, announces its partnership with Allied Insurance, a Nationwide(R) company.

Allied's line of personal and commercial property and casualty insurance products will now be available to Insurance First customers in addition to products from Insurance First's existing collection of carriers. Products Insurance First will offer through Allied include homeowners & auto insurance, business owners' policies, commercial auto and umbrella policies.

"The addition of Allied's products allows us to give our customers competitive prices on insurance products that are backed by the strength of the Nationwide Insurance Company," says Dean Henry, President of Insurance First Agency. "Allied offers tremendous value to every customer for whom we write an Allied policy," he adds.

Adding Allied to their carrier lineup is part of Insurance First's plan for growth in 2005. "Representing another high-quality carrier gives our current and potential customers an extremely valuable option for their insurance needs," says Henry. "Allied's reasonable fees will help keep us very competitive."

Jason Grams, Allied Sales Director for Ohio, says of the teaming, "As a member of the Title First Family of Companies, Insurance First has been able to secure a stable presence in their markets. We are very enthusiastic about the partnership."

Insurance First, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, brokers personal and commercial property & casualty insurance, health insurance and employee benefits services. Through partnerships with Allied and other first-rate insurance carriers, Insurance First provides multiple quotes through multiple carriers to assure customers the best insurance coverage for the lowest possible price.

Allied has carved a spot in the market by providing quality insurance coverage at fair prices. When the company merged with Nationwide Insurance in 1998, it assumed responsibility for Nationwide's independent agency system.

About Insurance First Agency, Inc.

Insurance First Agency is an independent insurance agency, representing many well-respected and highly rated insurance companies. Founded in 1988 as a sister company of Title First Agency, Insurance First began offering property and casualty insurance to provide added value to Title First's clientele. Today, the company offers a broad range of both personal and commercial property and casualty services, including homeowner and business owner policies, auto, umbrella policies, and financial products, as well as employee benefits services including health insurance, health savings accounts, life insurance and disability insurance. By partnering with industry-leading insurance carriers, Insurance First can offer customers the most comprehensive, tailored coverage available for the best value. For more information, visit www.insurance-1st.com.

About Allied Insurance

Allied Insurance is a property-casualty insurer established in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1929. Allied operates in 28 states through a network of independent agents with regional offices based in Denver, CO; Des Moines, IA; Lincoln, NE; and Sacramento, CA. Allied has been a member of the Nationwide family of companies since 1998, and is responsible for Nationwide Insurance's independent agency system. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Nationwide is a Fortune 500 company and one of the country's largest multi-insurers and financial services organizations.