Connect (insurance company)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance |
| Predecessor | Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Wisconsin Employers Group (as Wisconsin Employers Casualty Company) |
| Headquarters | Madison , United States |
Area served | United States (43 states and Washington D.C.) |
| Products | Auto, home, condo, renters, umbrella, specialty insurance; watercraft, ATV, RV, motorcycle protection (via specialty insurers) |
| Owner | American Family Insurance Mutual Holding Company |
Number of employees | 1,800 (2019) |
| Parent | American Family Insurance |
| Website | www |
Connect (branded as CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance) is an insurance company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. The company provides a range of insurance products including auto, home, condo, renters, umbrella, and specialty coverage through its internal agency. Its insurance policies are issued by American Family Connect Property and Casualty Insurance Company and American Family Connect Insurance Company, both fully owned subsidiaries of American Family Insurance Mutual Holding Company. Additionally, Connect collaborates with specialty insurers to offer protection for watercraft, ATVs, recreational vehicles, and motorcycles.
Primarily functioning as an affinity marketer, Connect utilizes strategic alliances with entities like Costco Wholesale and Ameriprise Financial to reach its intended customer base. In 2018, the predecessor to Connect, Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance, reported annual written premiums exceeding $1.1 billion, demonstrating substantial growth prior to its acquisition by American Family Insurance.
History
The origins trace back to 1979 when Wisconsin Employers Group founded Wisconsin Employers Casualty Company as a successor to Milwaukee's Wisconsin No-Fault Insurance (established in 1972). Following acquisition by American Express, the company was managed under its Fireman's Fund subsidiary. After divesting its health insurance division to Lincoln National Company in 1987, the casualty insurer was renamed IDS Property Casualty Insurance Company and aligned with Investors Diversified Services. The firm transitioned from relying on independent agents to direct sales targeting IDS clients.
IDS Property Casualty experienced rapid expansion, growing from 206 policies and $155,000 in premium income in 1986 to over 71,000 policies generating $55 million in premiums by 1992; employee numbers increased from 22 to 235 during this period. In 1995, American Express merged AmEx Assurance into IDS to broaden its reach nationwide from an initial presence in 25 states. By 1998, AmEx Property Casualty served 150,000 policyholders across 37 states and established a new headquarters at Ashwaubenon Business Centre in 2000.
Following the spin-off of American Express Financial Advisors into Ameriprise Financial in August 2005, American Express Property Casualty was rebranded as Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance. At that time, the company employed approximately 970 staff members and inaugurated a second office located in Phoenix, Arizona.
On October 1, 2019, American Family Insurance completed the acquisition of Ameriprise Auto & Home for $1.1 billion. At the time of purchase, the business had around 1,800 employees and operated across 43 states plus Washington D.C., with a concentration on the western U.S. market and auto insurance comprising the majority of premium volume. In August 2020, the company adopted the name "Connect, Powered by American Family Insurance." Due to a rise in remote work following the COVID-19 pandemic, Connect vacated its Ashwaubenon office space and terminated its lease there.
Awards and certifications
- A (Excellent) Rating for Financial Strength and Operating Performance – awarded by A.M. Best, a prominent independent rating organization for insurers
- Consistently recognized on Ward Group's Ward's Top 50 list highlighting leading property and casualty insurers
External links
- Articles with short description
- Insurance providers in the United States
- American enterprises founded in 1986
- Financial services firms founded in 1986
- Companies headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Establishments in Wisconsin from 1986
- Mergers and acquisitions of 2019
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
- American companies established in 1986