Commissioner Welcomes Insurer to the Mountain State; Newly-Appointed Agents Help Distribute Auto and Homeowners Products

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than 1.8 million people live in West Virginia, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Recent data indicates that they drive roughly 1.4 million registered vehicles and reside in some 867,000 houses, condos and apartments throughout the state.

To help insure these citizens on the road or in their homes, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG), one of the nation’s leading providers of investment and insurance products, announced that it has entered the personal lines independent agency market in West Virginia. Presence in the market means that drivers, homeowners, and renters in the Mountain State can now look to The Hartford when shopping for personal insurance through an agent.

“For nearly 200 years, The Hartford has been protecting Americans -- their homes, cars and valued possessions -- with a wide range of outstanding insurance solutions,” said Mike Concannon, senior vice president of personal lines at The Hartford. “We’re thrilled to have our products available through West Virginia independent agents, and we look forward to serving many new customers across the state.”

The West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner officially welcomed The Hartford to the market, noting that another major personal lines carrier in the state is a good thing for consumers and will provide them with more choice.

“We are pleased to have The Hartford entering the West Virginia insurance market,” said state insurance commissioner Jane Cline. “Our consumers will benefit greatly from having more choices when shopping for insurance. The Hartford has a strong, solid reputation, and we welcome them to the state.”

Products currently being offered in West Virginia through The Hartford’s independent agency channel include the company’s popular Dimensions(SM) auto and homeowners insurance plans. These plans, which leverage sophisticated underwriting capabilities, generate competitive rates tailored closely to a customer’s individual risk.

As a leading national carrier, the Hartford offers its Dimensions products in 41 other states and has been helping independent agents across the country better meet their customers’ total insurance needs. To support its initiative in West Virginia, the company has been building relationships with more than 80 newly-appointed independent agencies throughout the state that have been eager to place business with The Hartford.

For example, Philip Farrington of the Farrington Insurance Agency in Crab Orchard has been enthusiastic about The Hartford and its products, which he claims have been a welcome addition to his business. “Dimensions helps meet customer needs by offering great payment plans and no hassle policy changes. Customers will call and visit the office requesting information on rates and coverage that The Hartford offers, giving our business selling potential.”

Kevin Kniceley of the Kniceley’s Insurance Agency in Sutton also found that the availability of The Hartford’s products has helped him build relationships and a whole new customer base. “Many people recognize The Hartford’s name,” Kniceley noted. “When people heard we represented them they would call and request a quote.”

For more information on Dimensions auto and homeowners insurance, customers should contact an independent agent of The Hartford in their area, which they can locate on the company’s website at www.thehartford.com under the “Find an Agent” section. Agents can contact a personal insurance sales representative from The Hartford or visit the company’s Electronic Business Center (EBC) at http://ebc.thehartford.com.

The Hartford, a Fortune 100 company, is one of the nation's largest financial services and insurance companies, with 2005 revenues of $27.1 billion. The Hartford is a leading provider of investment products, life insurance and group benefits; automobile and homeowners products; and business property and casualty insurance. International operations are located in Japan, Brazil and the United Kingdom. The Hartford's Internet address is www.thehartford.com.

HIG-PC

Some of the statements in this release should be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include statements about our future results of operations. We caution investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially. Investors should consider the important risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those discussed in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date issued.

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Contacts
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
Debora Raymond, 860-547-9613
Debora.Raymond@thehartford.com
or
Joe Loparco, 860-547-3397
Joseph.Loparco@thehartford.com

© Business Wire 2006