FARGO, N.D.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bank of the West announced today its wholly-owned subsidiary, BW Insurance Agency, Inc., (BWIA) has acquired St. Paul Agency, Inc., a full service insurance agency involved in insurance, risk management and asset protection, based in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The St. Paul Agency offers a variety of commercial and personal lines, bond, life and health insurance products and serves over 3,500 individuals, families and business concerns in Metropolitan Minneapolis and St. Paul.

“This acquisition is a perfect fit for BW Insurance Agency,” said Tom Anderson, president of BWIA. “Both companies have a reputation of providing top-notch, personalized service and are committed to fostering and maintaining a relationship of mutual trust with their customers. By joining with BWIA, the St. Paul Agency significantly expands our operations in Minnesota and gives us an important market presence in the Twin Cities area.”

BWIA currently operates within ten Bank of the West branches in Minnesota. In the Twin Cities area, insurance products and services will continue to be offered from the existing St. Paul Agency, Inc. office.

This transaction marks the sixth insurance agency acquired by BWIA this year. Earlier 2006 acquisitions have expanded BWIA into markets including Denver and Aurora, Colorado, and Omaha, Bellevue and North Platte, Nebraska.

BWIA has 58 locations in eight Midwestern and Rocky Mountain states: Colorado, the Dakotas, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Utah and Wyoming. Its products range from automobile, homeowners and worker’s compensation, to life, health and general liability insurance offered through select Bank of the West branches.

About Bank of the West: Founded in 1874, $56 billion-asset Bank of the West (www.bankofthewest.com) offers a full range of business, corporate, personal, trust and international banking services and currently operates more than 700 branch locations and commercial banking offices in 19 Western and Midwestern states.

About BW Insurance Agency, Inc.: BW Insurance Agency, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of the West. Headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota, BW Insurance Agency currently operates 58 locations predominantly within Bank of the West branches in eight Western and Midwestern states providing property and casualty insurance to individuals and businesses. BW Insurance Agency offers high quality insurance at competitive prices, representing an array of national and regional insurance companies.

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Contacts
Bank of the West
Bob Wolff, 213-972-0521
robert.wolff@bankofthewest.com

© Business Wire 2006