Allstate - You're in good hands

09/16/2008 NORTHBROOK, Ill. -

Allstate (NYSE:ALL), the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurance company, today announced it was ranked among the top 100 innovative users of technology in the 2008 InformationWeek 500 annual listing. Recognized for its leadership initiatives in the areas of corporate governance and customer experience, this ranking demonstrates how Allstate is uniquely leveraging the use of technology to improve the way the company does business.

At the fore-front of Allstate's prominent ranking were the company's Next Generation Claim Systems (Next Gen) program, a successful re-engineering of how Allstate manages claims, and Consumer 2.0 initiative, enhancements to Allstate.com that makes it easier and faster for consumers to get an auto quote, purchase a policy, or service an existing policy online.

"As Allstate takes great strides to reinvent protection and retirement for the consumer, our technology and business operations are working together to find unique technology solutions that supports the company's business goals," said Catherine Brune, Allstate Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer. "We are thrilled to be recognized for our contributions in these areas. Our Next Gen program and Consumer 2.0 initiative are direct results of this strategic alliance and will help improve how we serve and satisfy our customers."

In 2005, Allstate launched the multi-year Next Generation Claim Systems program, which involved developing a completely new claim-processing system - the foundation of Allstate's business. Leaders within Allstate's technology and business organizations formed a partnership with joint accountability and decision making, and adopted a new business model that ensured all teams were following the same processes. As a testament to the effectiveness of this technology-business partnership, Allstate received Pink Elephant's 2008 ITIL Project of the Year award, and successfully reengineered how the company's 17,000 employee claims operation manages claims.

Allstate's Consumer 2.0 initiative has delivered a series of enhancements designed to better meet the changing needs and demands of consumers. New tools and capabilities were added to Allstate.com, making the site more appealing, informative and easier to navigate. An interactive auto insurance guide is now available, where consumers can choose from six video hosts to walk them through and explain the complexity of auto insurance. Consumer 2.0 also strengthened the links between Allstate's access points, to better integrate the multi-channel business model and provide a superior and seamless customer experience.

"For 20 years, the InformationWeek 500 has honored the most innovative users of business technology," said InformationWeek Editor-in-Chief Rob Preston. "Year after year, InformationWeek 500 companies harness technology to improve efficiency, boost productivity, drive revenue, and establish a competitive advantage. We applaud this year's winners, and the CIOs and other executives whose ingenuity and risk taking are at the center of business technology innovation."

The InformationWeek 500 was revealed last night during the InformationWeek 500 Conference and Gala Awards. InformationWeek has identified and honored the nation's most innovative users of information technology with its annual listing, now in its 20th year, and has tracked the technology, strategies, investments and administrative practices of America's best-known companies. The list is unique among corporate rankings because it spotlights the power of innovation in information technology, rather than simply identifying the biggest IT spenders.

Additional details on the InformationWeek 500 can be found online at www.informationweek.com/iw500/.

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 is reinventing protection and retirement to help individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through approximately 14,700 exclusive Allstate agencies and financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®. Encompass® and Deerbrook® Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers. Customers can also access information about Allstate Financial Group products and services at myallstatefinancial.com.

Contact:

Krissy Posey
(847) 402-5600