Insuring customers on their terms; New Allstate Insurance Agency open for
business in Calgary

CALGARY , Sept. 15 /CNW/ - Today, Chris Kiah , President and CEO, Allstate Canada , was on hand to celebrate the official grand opening of the new Allstate Insurance Agency (AIA) in Calgary . In 2007, Allstate announced that it was going to enhance its agent distribution model in order to better respond to customer expectations and to the demands of a changing marketplace and introduced the new Allstate Insurance Agency. "We are pleased to be making consistent inroads into the Alberta market with what we firmly believe is an attractive new business model, one that will deliver a service level and product offerings that will not only meet consumer needs, but exceed their expectations," Kiah said. The new Allstate Insurance Agency creates a consistent delivery model by providing consumers with access to a team of experienced and knowledgeable Allstate agents who will each be accountable for managing specific aspects of a customer's needs. In each Agency there will be:

    
    -   An Allstate Agent who will create and develop the relationship at new
        business;
    -   An Allstate Agent who will expand the relationship by identifying
        additional features to meet changing and evolving insurance needs;
        and
    -   An Allstate Agent who will strengthen the relationship at renewal and
        provide customer service and support.
    

"We have an experienced and enthusiastic team and we are looking forward to being an active and vital part of the community. Our staff prides itself on educating and advising clients and adding value to the entire insurance process," said Blake Reichert , Agency Manager, Shepard Centre AIA. Currently, 95% of the new agencies have been opened and upon the project's completion later this year, there will be 93 new Agencies across Canada , including four agencies in Calgary . Allstate Insurance Company of Canada produces and distributes home and auto insurance products right across Canada . The "Good Hands Network" enables consumers to contact Allstate through one of our over 500 exclusive community-based agents, directly on-line at www.allstate.ca, and through the Customer Contact Centre at 1-800-ALLSTATE.

For further information: Darcy Bonner, Corporate Relations, [phone]