Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
	File:Nationwide logo.svg Logo of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
Company type	Mutual company
Industry	Insurance, Financial services
Founded	April 10, 1926; 100 years ago in Columbus, Ohio, United States
Headquarters	Columbus, Ohio, United States
Area served	United States
Key people	Kirt Walker (CEO)
Products	Property and casualty insurance, life insurance, retirement planning, asset management, strategic investment solutions
Number of employees	24,000 (2025)
Website	www.nationwide.com

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company along with its affiliates, collectively referred to as Nationwide, represents a leading American insurance and financial services organization headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, with additional regional offices located in Scottsdale, Arizona and Des Moines, Iowa. Employing approximately 24,000 individuals, Nationwide holds the 72nd position on the 2025 Fortune 500 ranking.

A division of the group, Nationwide Financial Services (NFS), was listed on the New York Stock Exchange from 1997 until Nationwide Mutual reacquired it in 2009.

Origins as Farm Bureau Mutual

In the 1920s, Ohio’s farming community encountered automobile insurance premiums comparable to those of urban drivers despite experiencing fewer accidents. To remedy this disparity, the Ohio Farm Bureau established its own insurance company. On April 10, 1926, the Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company was licensed and funded with $10,000 sourced from member contributions.

Ohio regulations mandated a minimum of 100 pledged policyholders to initiate operations; however, the company surpassed this by enrolling over 1,000 members. Its initial offering was automobile insurance exclusively tailored for Ohio farmers affiliated with the Ohio Farm Bureau.

Growth and Development

By 1928, Farm Bureau Mutual had extended its services into West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Vermont, and North Carolina. The company began underwriting policies for small-town residents in 1931 and expanded coverage to larger urban areas by 1934. That same year marked the introduction of fire insurance, which was subsequently expanded through acquisitions.

In 1935, the company acquired the Life Insurance Company of America from the insolvent American Insurance Union and rebranded it as Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company in 1938.

As business activity increased, the firm relocated to the 246 Building in Columbus in 1936. By 1943, operations spanned twelve states plus the District of Columbia. Although office space was expanded there, by 1951 Nationwide initiated opening regional offices due to limited capacity.

The company adopted the name Nationwide Insurance in 1955. Over the following decade, it broadened its footprint into Oregon and nineteen additional states, reaching a total presence in thirty-two states plus D.C. by 1965.

During the 1970s, a new headquarters became necessary. One Nationwide Plaza was completed in 1978 at North High Street and Nationwide Boulevard. Since then, Nationwide has grown its downtown Columbus campus with multiple office buildings and maintains substantial facilities in nearby suburbs such as Dublin, Grandview Heights, and Grove City.

Nationwide Slogan & Jingle

The well-known Nationwide slogan originated in 1965 with "The Man from Nationwide is on your Side," created by jingle composer Steve Karmen and set to music in 1969. Reflecting changes in workforce diversity, "the Man from" was removed in 1972 following the hiring of the company's first female agent, resulting in "Nationwide is on your side." This adjustment highlighted Nationwide’s commitment to inclusivity and evolving business practices.

Notable celebrities who have appeared in Nationwide’s advertising campaigns include:

These partnerships have strengthened Nationwide’s brand presence and appeal across varied audience segments.

Nationwide Tour

Nationwide secured the naming rights for the Buy.com Tour, the secondary men's professional golf circuit in the United States, in 2003 and maintained this partnership until 2012.

Nationwide Children's Hospital

Following a $50 million contribution from Nationwide, Columbus Children's Hospital was renamed Nationwide Children's Hospital on September 24, 2007.

Supporting Columbus's emergence as a major league city

By 1997, Columbus, ranked as the 15th largest city in the U.S., did not have a major professional sports team. After unsuccessful efforts to relocate the Hartford Whalers, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company invested in constructing an arena adjacent to One Nationwide Plaza to attract an NHL franchise. This initiative culminated in the establishment of the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in 2000. The arena serves as the centerpiece of the Arena District, a prominent entertainment and hospitality area that links downtown Columbus with The Short North.

Nationwide Realty Investors, the company’s real estate division, contributed land for the development of a new soccer stadium in Columbus. Additionally, Nationwide sponsors the Major League Soccer team Columbus Crew, with its logo featured on team jerseys since 2020.

NASCAR

Beginning in 2008, Nationwide took on the role of title sponsor for the NASCAR Nationwide Series. In 2013, it announced its intention to conclude this sponsorship after the 2014 season but remained an official NASCAR partner. Starting in 2015, Nationwide became the primary sponsor for driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the Sprint Cup Series.

Memorial Tournament

On September 3, 2010, Nationwide entered into a six-year presenting sponsorship agreement for the PGA Tour’s Memorial Tournament, commencing with that year’s event.

Jack Hanna

In March 2010, Nationwide co-sponsored Into the Wild, a television program and national speaking tour led by Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Director Emeritus Jack Hanna, bolstering its brand presence through wildlife conservation efforts.

The companies

Nationwide stands as one of the world’s largest insurance and financial services organizations, focusing on property and casualty insurance, life insurance, retirement planning, asset management, and strategic investment solutions.

The Nationwide group encompasses:

Property and Casualty

ALLIED Insurance Company of America
ALLIED Property and Casualty Insurance Company
AMCO Insurance Company
Colonial County Mutual Insurance Company
Crestbrook Insurance Company
Depositors Insurance Company
Freedom Specialty Insurance Company
Harleysville Insurance Company (including multiple regional subsidiaries)
Nationwide Affinity Insurance Company of America
Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company
Nationwide Assurance Company
Nationwide General Insurance Company
Nationwide Indemnity Company
Nationwide Insurance Company of America
Nationwide Insurance Company of Florida
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
Nationwide Property and Casualty Insurance Company
National Casualty Company
Scottsdale Indemnity Company and its subsidiaries
Titan Insurance Company
Veterinary Pet Insurance Company
Victoria Fire & Casualty Company and Victoria Select Insurance Company

Life Insurance, Retirement, and Investments

Eagle Captive Reinsurance, LLC
Jefferson National Life Insurance Companies (including its New York subsidiary)
Nationwide Asset Management, LLC
Nationwide Trust Company, FSB
Various Nationwide Financial Services entities such as Capital Trust and General Agency
Nationwide Fund Advisors along with associated fund management firms
Divisions including Nationwide Investment Advisors and Securities
Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Companies
Nationwide Realty Investors, Ltd.
Nationwide Retirement Solutions, Inc.
NNOV8, LLC
Registered Investment Advisors Services, Inc.

Formerly Owned Businesses

Nationwide Communications, previously managing radio station WNCI

Diversity

Nationwide has consistently earned a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign since 2004, demonstrating its dedication to fostering an inclusive workplace. A significant milestone in its diversity history occurred in 1964 when the company employed Vernon Blatz, one of the earliest blind computer programmers in the United States, underscoring Nationwide’s longstanding commitment to workforce diversity.

Enterprise Collaboration

The company’s internal tool, "SPOT," combines the functionalities of Yammer and SharePoint to improve collaboration among employees and facilitate seamless communication throughout the organization.

Mobile claims application

Nationwide introduced Nationwide Mobile in 2009, a groundbreaking complimentary iPhone application designed for auto insurance clients. This app streamlines accident reporting, initiates claims handling, helps users find authorized repair facilities, and enables efficient information sharing—making Nationwide the first insurer in the U.S. to offer such a mobile service.

CEOs

CEO	Tenure
Lee B. Palmer	1926–1928
George L. Cooley	1928–1939
Murray Lincoln	1939–1964
Bowman Doss	1964–1969
George Dunlap	1969–1972
Dean Jeffers	1972–1981
John Fisher	1981–1992
Dimon McFerson	1992–2000
Jerry Jurgensen	2001–2009
Steve Rasmussen	2009–October 2019
Kirt Walker	October 2019–present

Death benefit controversy

In October 2012, Nationwide consented to a $7.2 million settlement resolving a multistate inquiry into its practice of utilizing the Social Security Death Master File for processing life insurance claims. Although beneficiaries are contractually obligated to notify the insurer, Nationwide uncovered $144 million in unpaid benefits due to unclaimed policies. The agreement, involving regulatory authorities from multiple states, required Nationwide and other insurers to verify records against the Social Security Death Index to locate rightful beneficiaries.

Claims of bad faith

In June 2014, a court awarded $18 million in punitive damages against Nationwide after determining that the company acted in bad faith by exerting pressure on a policyholder instead of engaging in fair negotiations following an auto accident.

Super Bowl ad

Nationwide’s advertisement during Super Bowl XLIX promoting its Make Safe Happen child safety campaign sparked controversy. The commercial featured a deceased boy reflecting on life events he would miss, which many viewers found unsettling and inappropriate for a major sporting event. Nationwide defended the ad by highlighting the critical importance of raising awareness about child safety.

External links