E.W. Blanch Holdings Introduces Marketing and Distribution Program for Banks

As regulatory and legal barriers fall, banks are seizing the opportunity to participate in a broader selection of insurance products. To help banks thrive in this environment, E.W. Blanch Holdings is providing an increasing array of resources through a newly created division, EWB Bancassurance, designed to enable banks to originate and distribute insurance products directly to their customer base.

Until recently, banks were restricted in their ability to integrate a full range of insurance products into their marketing plans. EWB's Bancassurance solves this problem by delivering a distribution platform that helps banks develop and deploy insurance programs.

"Through EWB Bancassurance, we intend to change the products and distribution to fit the bank model," said Scott Brock, president of E.W. Blanch Insurance Services. "By leveraging their customer relationships, existing sales infrastructure and new technologies to build proprietary distribution systems, banks can generate new insurance sales from their existing customers in a more cost-effective and efficient manner."

EWB Bancassurance effectively integrates a multitude of EWB's global services to deliver comprehensive, customized solutions across the scope of a bank's risk management operations. The marketing arm of EWB provides access to global markets, and their catastrophe and financial modeling services enable them to deliver capacity in otherwise challenging geographic regions. EWB Bancassurance will leverage its partnership with Insurance Technology Services of America to provide the platform for the rating, quoting, underwriting, and processing of the proprietary insurance product.

Most importantly, EWB Bancassurance's product development expertise ensures that products are correctly priced and delivered to a bank's customers via the most effective distribution channels. This customized approach enables banks to differentiate their product offerings in the marketplace. Mace McCain, senior vice president of E.W. Blanch Holdings, Inc., will be responsible for the operating unit within EWB.