Country Financial - CC Services Inc.
09/11/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/11/2024 12:50
COUNTRY Financial® Announces Planned Changes to Underwriting Requirements for Illinois Clients
September 11, 2024
COUNTRY Financial® Announces Planned Changes to Underwriting Requirements for Illinois Clients
COUNTRY Financial announced changes the organization plans to make to the underwriting requirements for non-farm clients in Illinois.
- Beginning with policy renewals January 1, 2025, and after, COUNTRY will still require an active Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) membership for farm-related policies but will no longer require an IFB membership for Personal Lines and Commercial policies.
- Current IFB Property/Casualty (P/C) underwriting rules remain in place through December 31, 2024.
How will these changes impact clients?
This means that clients who buy non-agricultural products from COUNTRY will no longer be required to have an IFB membership. This aligns with the feedback we've heard from non-ag COUNTRY clients.
Illinois Farm Bureau memberships are renewed annually.
- If a non-ag client has a membership that expires January 1, 2025, or beyond, they do not need to act after that membership expires.
- If a non-ag client's membership expires before December 31, 2024, they will need to renew that membership so their COUNTRY Financial coverages are not impacted.
Clients who have one or more of the following policies with COUNTRY will need to keep an active IFB membership:
- Farm
- AgriPlus®
- Farm umbrella
- Farm-use auto
- Crop Hail
- Cargo
- Livestock Mortality (except FFA and 4-H)
- Stand-alone Pollution Liability
IFB members receive exclusive access to COUNTRY farm products and rates including, but not limited to, Farm/AgriPlus®, Crop Hail, Farm umbrella, and Farm-use auto. Clients who are not required to have an IFB membership will receive a separate membership renewal invoice from their county farm bureau to continue their membership if interested.
COUNTRY clients with questions about what this means for them should contact their COUNTRY rep or 866-COUNTRY (866-268-6879).
COUNTRY has a longstanding, successful history with the Illinois Farm Bureau, and we'll maintain this relationship going forward. At the same time, COUNTRY operates in a highly competitive insurance marketplace and our business practices need to remain contemporary with current realities. We also need to ensure we are meeting client needs and aligning to our long-term strategy.
COUNTRY was founded by Illinois farmers in 1925; the organization's history is rooted in Illinois agriculture. Since then, the COUNTRY Financial group has become the largest farm insurance writer in Illinois. While growing across 19 states and multiple product lines, COUNTRY has remained focused on helping clients protect what is most important to their livelihood with insurance and financial offerings.
Media contact
Carrie Skogsberg