Cumberland Insurance Group Scores Well with New Jersey Agents
BRIDGETON, NJ: The Cumberland Insurance Group achieved outstanding levels of customer satisfaction among New Jersey independent insurance agents according to a Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) study published in the October PIA Magazine. In the cumulative Company Performance Survey (CPS) results, Cumberland Insurance scored 165 out of 200, placing them 6th overall in the state, only 11 points from the top spot. The CPS was a cooperative effort of the PIA associations in New Jersey, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and New York.
A record number of 1,226 agents took part in the PIA study which ranked the performance of 77 insurance companies in 20 individual categories from 1 to 10. While The Cumberland Insurance Group placed well in all categories across the board with an average rating of 8.2, their highest rankings were achieved in the following CPS areas: Competitive Compensation, Dedication to the Independent Agency System, Consistent Underwriting, Listens and Responds to Customer Needs, Provides Clear and Honest Communication, and Offers Competitive Pricing. Over 7,000 individual company evaluations were reviewed and processed as part of the data gathering phase.
“Our independent agency partners are critical to ensuring that a policyholder’s first experience with Cumberland Insurance becomes a lasting relationship,” said Robert P. Brady, Cumberland Insurance Group President and CEO. “By delivering products and services that our agents are able to effectively market, and by maintaining quality underwriting and pricing discipline, we are able to achieve positive results for the Company and our agency force.”
“Strong relationships with community-based, professional insurance agents have always been a key to the Company’s success,” said Senior Vice President of Marketing Steve J. Catranis, CPCU. “After all, independent agents are the face of our business. They know firsthand what our customers need and expect from their insurance carrier, and are in touch with the local marketplace they serve. Our goal is to be their market of choice by providing the combination of relationships, competitive products, superior service, and the ease of doing business that they are looking for.”
“Understanding and responding to the needs of our agency partners will continue to drive our future success. As a result, ongoing efforts to develop new products, enhance the delivery of services through technology, and provide training and marketing support will continue to be a part of our business model. The independent findings of the PIA study provide feedback which is important to helping Cumberland Insurance meet the needs of our agents and policyholders in the years to come,” Brady concluded.
The Cumberland Insurance Group, established in 1844, is celebrating its 165th anniversary and currently serves over 120,000 policyholders in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. In 2008, the Company had Total Admitted Assets of $315,595,220 and a Policyholders’ Surplus of $140,166,468. For more information about The Cumberland Insurance Group, or to find an independent agent near you, please visit www.cumberlandgroup.com.