State Auto Wins ACORD Upload Award

    COLUMBUS, Ohio--May 28, 2003--For the second consecutive year, and the third time in the last six years, the State Auto Insurance Companies took top honors at the annual ACORD (Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development) convention, winning the award for Upload Company of the Year. The award is given to the company with the most total upload implementations during the year.
    Each year ACORD recognizes industry technology leaders through the ACORD Upload and Download Awards. More than 1,300 independent insurance agencies doing business with State Auto are able to send new business applications and policy changes electronically to the company, reducing redundant systems entry work and human error.
    ACORD is a global, nonprofit insurance association whose mission is to facilitate the development and use of standards for the insurance, reinsurance and related financial services industries. With offices in Belgium, the United Kingdom and the United States, ACORD accomplishes its mission by remaining an objective, independent advocate for sharing information among diverse platforms. ACORD Standards and services improve efficiency and expand market reach. Affiliated with ACORD are hundreds of insurance and reinsurance companies and thousands of agents and brokers, related financial services organizations, software providers, and industry organizations worldwide.
    "We are delighted to have won this award for the second straight year. It confirms our commitment to efficient operations through agency/company interface," said Noreen Johnson, Vice President and Director of Information Technologies. "We currently receive nearly 50% of all new personal lines business through agency upload, and our 2003 goal is to further increase that to at least 70%."
    Accepting the award at the convention for State Auto were Agency Interface Services Supervisor Debbie Segbers and Project Manager (Internet Development Team) Sandy Stepp.
    The State Auto Insurance Group, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, is engaged primarily in writing personal and commercial automobile, homeowners, commercial multi-peril, workers' compensation and fire insurance. The companies currently market their products through more than 22,000 independent agents associated with approximately 3,500 agencies in 26 states. Products are marketed primarily in the Midwest and Eastern United States, excluding New York, New Jersey and the New England states.