Merchants Insurance Group
| Company type | Mutual insurance company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Insurance |
| Founded | March 5, 1918 |
| Founder | Urban F. Jehle, J.R. Young, Owen B. Augspurger, C.W. Brown |
| Headquarters | Buffalo , United States |
Area served | Northeast and North Central United States |
Key people | Urban F. Jehle (founder) |
| Products | Personal and commercial property and casualty insurance |
Number of employees | 300+ |
| Parent | Merchants Insurance Group |
| Website | merchantsgroup |
Merchants Insurance Group is a property and casualty insurance provider serving primarily the Northeast and North Central regions of the United States, with its main office located in Buffalo, New York. The company delivers both personal and commercial insurance products through regional branches situated in Buffalo, Hauppauge (New York), Manchester (New Hampshire), and Mount Laurel (New Jersey).
This organization is composed of three distinct entities: Merchants Mutual Insurance Company, Merchants Preferred Insurance Company, and Merchants National Insurance Company. Established in 2007, Merchants Preferred was created to restore the preferred-risk segment after divesting a similar business unit, while Merchants National commenced its operations in 2009.
Employing over 300 insurance specialists and collaborating with more than 1,000 independent agents, Merchants provides coverage across several states including Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.
History
The company was founded on March 5, 1918, originally named Merchants Mutual Liability Company under the leadership of President Urban F. Jehle. It was created to offer mutual protection specifically for merchants' delivery vehicles. Jehle partnered with local insurance professional J.R. Young, attorney Owen B. Augspurger, and civil engineer C.W. Brown to establish the enterprise.
During the late 1930s and early 1940s, the firm operated under the name Merchants Mutual Casualty Company. By February 1957, it broadened its services to include both casualty and property insurance lines and adopted the title Merchants Mutual Insurance Company to represent this expanded focus. In the 1960s, Merchants moved its headquarters into a five-story building on Main Street in Buffalo, where it remains today.
Philanthropy
Merchants Insurance Group actively contributes to charitable initiatives within its service areas, with significant support directed toward organizations such as the United Way and the American Cancer Society. In addition to corporate donations, the company sponsors an employee-led group called Colleagues in Action (CIA), which coordinates fundraising events and volunteer activities. From 1999 through 2018, combined contributions from both the company and its employees surpassed $512,000, including $35,900 raised during 2018 alone.