Allstate - You're in good hands

12/13/2004 NORTHBROOK, Ill. -

Who knows a company and its customers best? Its sales force, and according to a recent survey of Allstate Insurance Company's 12,900 exclusive agents and financial specialists, Allstate is on the right track.

Ninety-three percent (93%) of Allstate's exclusive agents responding to the survey say they are proud to represent Allstate in their communities. Overall, eighty percent (80%) of Allstate's exclusive agents say they are happy with the relationship they have with Allstate, an all-time high for the company's annual survey of its agency force.

"Our business is about our people. Agencies are the face of Allstate to millions of Americans," said Tom Wilson, president of Allstate Protection Company. "We work hard to provide agency owners the knowledge and experience to succeed in the marketplace and exceed customer's expectations."

A turnaround story…

Just two years ago, Allstate's agency relationship story was a different tale. A similar survey of Allstate's agency force in 2002 returned a fifty-six percent (56%) satisfaction rate among agents.

"People are the key to our success," Wilson said. "It was time to refocus how we were doing business - to work more closely with Allstate agency owners to better serve our customers."

Fueling the significant improvement of agency morale, has been the company's focus on improved communication, a new national agency advisory board that collaborates with corporate leadership on business issues ranging from product development to technology and new product innovations like identity theft expense coverage.

Ninety-three percent (93%) of Allstate's survey respondents said the company's "Agency Desktop" promotes business growth in their agency. "Agency Desktop" is online and web-based technology that provide Allstate exclusive agencies an easy to use one-stop shop for the tools to develop and manage their business.

Additionally, Allstate has restructured the compensation plan for exclusive agents to better align income with company and agency goals and objectives. In two years, the average income of an Allstate exclusive agent has increased ten-point-four percent (10.4%).

The 2004 edition of Allstate's annual agency relationship survey revealed eighty-nine percent (89%) of Allstate's local agents think the company's claims organization is doing a good job of helping customers and claimants - providing quality service to customers in their time of need.

"With these innovations has come the enthusiasm of Allstate's local agents, and an on-going effort to build the company as an agency and customer service focused organization," Wilson said. " We're proving that when agencies win, Allstate wins, and vice versa - it's a winning combination generating results for the company."

Seventy-one percent (71%) of Allstate's exclusive agents responded to the 2004 agency relationship survey, a twenty-six percent (26%) increase in participation rate since 2002.

Allstate Insurance Company conducted the agency relationship survey internally, via email during October and November of 2004. The survey included Allstate Insurance Company's Exclusive Agents, Exclusive Financial Specialists and Allstate Independent Agents in all territories served by the company. The survey includes questions related to the agency's relationship with Allstate as well as satisfaction with the service they receive from different parts of Allstate, effectiveness of different communication methods, incentives, and education.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate^®" slogan, Allstate helps individuals in more than 16 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through more than 12,900 exclusive agencies and financial specialists in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate^®. Encompass^SM and Deerbrook^® Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, annuity, retirement, banking and investment products through distribution channels that include Allstate agencies, independent agencies and financial institutions and broker-dealers.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Jim Dudas, 847-402-5600