Erie Insurance Enters Kentucky

Erie Insurance Group has begun to offer its products in the Kentucky market. The Erie, Pennsylvania-based insurer said its entry into Kentucky marks its first geographic expansion in more than 10 years.

In preparing for its Kentucky launch, the company established a corporate office in Lexington and worked with independent agents from neighboring states to open new branch locations in Kentucky specifically to sell Erie insurance.

“The agencies that are being established are agencies that already have successful offices in neighboring states and they are opening up new offices across Kentucky,” Erie Insurance vice president and Kentucky branch manager Jay Simon told Insurance Journal. “These are some of our very best agents. These are experienced Erie agents who know how to successfully run a small business because they also have agencies in nearby states.”

He said 24 agency locations have opened doors in Kentucky in October, and approximately 16 more offices are scheduled to open by the end of the year for a total of 40 locations in Kentucky for this year. Additional locations are also planned for 2015.

Erie Insurance now has operations in the following 13 states and jurisdictions: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The company offers insurance through 2,160 independent agencies.

“We’re excited to be in Kentucky — our first expansion in more than 10 years,” said Simon.

Erie Insurance has nearly 4.9 million policies in force for auto, home and commercial insurance, and more than 330,000 life, annuity and disability income policies in force. The company is the 16th-largest property/casualty insurer in the U.S. based on total lines net premium written, according to A.M. Best Co.