N America News May 2017

40 NORTH AMERICA NEWS / MAY 2017 , State Farm is continuing to build community trust and remain ahead of the insurance industry with their unique approach to customer service and product promotion, earning the title of Most Trusted Insurance Broker - Catawba County. Good Neighbors put the Needs of Others First State Farm, known for being a “good neighbor” by “being there” for customers, was founded in 1922 by retired farmer and insurance salesman George Jacob “G.J.” Mecherle. They now insure more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S. A mutual company, State Farm is currently ranked number 33 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. Originally a single-line auto insurance company, State Farm now offers nearly 100 products and services, in five different lines of business. They show commitment to policyholders by handling 39,000 claims per day. The company currently has 84.4 million policies and accounts, with 45 million in Auto, 28 million in Fire, nearly 8 million in Life, and just under 900,000 in Health. As the 90th largest bank in the U.S. based on total assets, State Farm currently holds more than $18 billion in assets. The company has almost 500,000 Mutual Funds accounts. They offer approximately 100 different products, and process approximately 39,000 claims a day. The State Farm story began with Mecherle’s original vision for State Farm: operate fairly and do the right thing for customers. His vision still guides State Farm today. Their continued mission is to be the first and best choice in the products and services they provide. State Farm does the right thing for its customers and for communities. They are heavily involved in, and support communities through, sponsorship of safety programs and organizations. A public leader in auto safety efforts, State Farm helped pass several seat belt laws and continues to be an advocate for teen driver safety. They work to build safer, stronger, and better educated communities across the U.S., while remaining committed to efforts that help raise the achievement levels of U.S. teachers and students. State Farm is building stronger communities through activities aimed at preventing and reducing injury and loss. They support programs that enable home ownership, help create safe neighborhoods, and make homes and highways safer. State Farm is present in schools and communities, online and offline, through statefarm.com ® and in nearly 19,000 agent offices. State Farm has been committed to meeting customer needs since 1922. They have been helping policyholders to protect their loved ones’ financial futures for more than 95 years. The State Farm company mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams, while their success is built on a foundation of shared values, quality service and relationships, mutual trust, integrity, and financial strength. They are committed to helping their customers live confidently, through every stage of life. They do this by understanding the unique needs of their policyholders and providing the information and guidance to help them to make smart decisions for their family and financial futures. State Farm proudly advertises their “good neighbor” service. State Farm agents provide guidance to help customers find the right coverage to fit their needs, as well as answer customer questions. State Farm has consistently received excellent financial ratings, which it believes is one of the main factors in attracting and retaining loyal policyholders, alongside their conservative investing strategy. By investing policyholder premiums, their strategy is geared for the long term. The company’s commitment to its customers is to provide a broad array of products that help meet their needs. The State Farm mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. They do this by aiming to be like a “good neighbor,” building a premier company by selling and keeping promises through their marketing partnerships, and bringing diverse talents and experiences to customers through exemplary service. Looking to the future, the State Farm vision is to be the customer’s first and best choice in the products and services they provide. They aim to continue to be the leader in the insurance industry and have their sights set on becoming a leader in the financial services arena. BO17014