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NAMIC Appoints Western Region State Affairs Manager … Former property/casualty claims adjuster, subrogation analyst and insurance attorney, Christian Rataj, has joined the NAMIC as state affairs manager for the Western United States. Based in Denver, Rataj will advocate on behalf of NAMIC member companies before state legislatures and departments of insurance in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

NAMIC Testifies for North Dakota Rate Modernization Bill … A bill to modernize rate and rate filing standards “will be of great benefit to North Dakota insurance markets,” and “would send a strong message to Congress that states can improve and modernize the state system of insurance regulation,” according to testimony by NAMIC. NAMIC Central Region State Affairs Manager Joe Thesing submitted testimony to the House Industry, Business and Labor Committee, chaired by State Rep. George J. Keiser. To read NAMIC’s testimony, visit www.namic.org.

NAMIC Welcomes New Federal Affairs Senior Lobbyist … NAMIC added a veteran property/casualty insurance lobbyist to its Washington, D.C., office. Justin Roth, formerly a senior lobbyist with the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (the Big “I”) is the new senior director of government affairs for NAMIC. In addition to Justin’s lobbying abilities, he brings with him an appreciation of the importance of grassroots and a strong PAC to an effective federal legislative program. With substantial lobbying talent in place, grassroots strength and a growing PAC, NAMIC is well positioned to deliver its legislative agenda in the new Congress.

Independent Agents, Brokers Produce Nearly Three-Fifths Of Growing Property/Casualty Market … The overall property/casualty market grew 9.5 percent in 2003, and independent agents and brokers produced 59.4 percent of this market, according to The 2003 Property-Casualty Insurance Market recently released by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA). The overall market increased by $41.29 billion, and the independent agency system produced $27.27 billion of this growth. On the commercial-lines side, the market share report finds that the market continued to grow at the double digit rate of 11.8 percent in 2003 to $229.14 billion. This growth of over $24 billion in commercial lines written premium followed a strong year of growth in 2002, when this market increased by 19 percent. The full report provides total as well as independent agency premium volumes for the given lines, as well as the respective market shares for distribution systems. For more information, visit www.independentagent.com.

Assurance Partners Bancorp Shareholders Approve Merger with Federal City Bancorp … Shareholders of Assurance Partners Bancorp (APB) of Carmel, Ind., voted to merge with Federal City Bancorp, Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based thrift holding company. Regulatory approval for the merger has already been obtained from the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS). The merged holding company will own Assurance Partners Bank, a national thrift serving an insurance industry niche.

Shareholder agreement to approve the merger followed a unanimous vote by APB’s board to approve and recommend the transaction. The terms of the merger, and the board’s recommendation to APB shareholders, were contained in a proxy statement sent to shareholders earlier this year. APB’s board recommended this action to best position the bank to grow its product offerings and customer base.

The APB board believes that the merger will give the bank additional resources to build on its established foundation. Additionally, to better serve the members of NAMIC – a key customer market for the bank – there will be unique benefits offered such as claims management services, retail branch operations, trustee accounts and additional agency financing for expansion and acquisition.

“NAMIC members and bank customers will realize the benefit of an experienced team led by Stuart McFarland, more than $10 million in new capital and an enhanced business plan that leverages the bank’s existing strengths with new lines of business,” said Chuck Chamness, Assurance Partners Bank chairman and NAMIC’s president. “These improvements will better meet the needs of local customers in the Indianapolis and Washington D.C. communities, and enhance the range of banking services available to NAMIC member companies and the agents who sell their policies across the nation.”

“This is an exciting community banking opportunity with a national franchise,” said McFarland, who is chairman and chief executive officer of Federal City Bancorp. “As we expand, we look forward to enhancing our business relationships with NAMIC and its members.”

Posted: Friday, April 01, 2005 12:00:00 AM. Modified: Thursday, April 14, 2005 1:14:30 PM.

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We are 1,400 property/casualty insurance companies serving more than 135 million auto, home and business policyholders, with more than $196 billion in premiums accounting for 50 percent of the automobile/homeowners market and 31 percent of the business insurance market. We are the largest and most diverse property/casualty trade association in the country, with regional and local mutual insurance companies on main streets across America joining many of the country’s largest national insurers who also call NAMIC their home. More than 200,000 people are employed by NAMIC members.