Allstate Expands Again in New Jersey

Citing what it calls dramatic changes in the New Jersey auto insurance marketplace due to implementation of auto insurance reform, Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company (ANJ) has appointed Patricia Egberts as the company's first new exclusive agent in more than 25 years. The property and casualty insurer also recently took steps to begin offering its auto and property products through select New Jersey independent agents.

``The appointment of our first agent since 1974 is a milestone for our company and New Jersey consumers,'' said Richard Crist, Jr., president of Allstate New Jersey. ``The auto insurance reform laws have fostered a marketplace where healthy competition is growing, consumer rates are falling, and the cost of doing business appears to be stabilizing. The appointment demonstrates Allstate's belief that legislators passed comprehensive auto reform laws and regulators are skillfully implementing the reform. It also shows our optimism that the judiciary will hold fast to the legislative intent of reducing pain and suffering lawsuits for non-serious and non-permanent injuries.''

The new Allstate agency will be located in Woodbury Heights, a Philadelphia suburb, and run by Egberts, a 12-year veteran of the insurance industry. Allstate New Jersey has 136 additional agency locations throughout the Garden State and plans to hire several agents by year's end.

Allstate New Jersey says that since December 1999, it has also appointed six independent agencies to tap into New Jersey's $800 million property and casualty Independent Agency market. This is in keeping with Allstate's multi-channel strategy, which the firm says will eventually allow customers to do business with the company through dedicated and independent agents, direct mail, call centers and the Internet.

``The expansion of our distribution system offers consumers in the Garden State more opportunities to do business with Allstate New Jersey,'' said Crist. ``However, we are going to grow very strategically, only adding agents and other distribution channels if the market continues to support competitive growth. Ultimately, our expansion is dependent on the continued success of New Jersey's historic auto reform.''

Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company, headquartered in Bridgewater, NJ, was established in 1997 by the Allstate Insurance Company for consumers in New Jersey.