Allstate’s Expanding Electronic Payment Option Seen as Green All Over

Insurance Networking News, August 5, 2008

Northbrook, Ill. — A unique marketing initiative by Allstate Insurance Co. will expand its Allstate Green electronic payment option initiative to eight states, make good on local green promises and leave its mark as a corporation that cares about the environment.

Coming on the heels of market tests in Colorado and Ohio, the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer announced an eight-state test expansion for an “eco-friendly” insurance option designed to save customers money and earmarks contributions to local environmental causes.

Those original markets will be joined by expansion states Washington, Oregon, Louisiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri and Kansas . The Northbrook, Ill. , insurer said the test is scheduled to conclude at the end of 2008.

Allstate’s Green test program includes reduction of paper statements with the Allstate Easy Pay Plan, an electronic payment system that automatically deducts premiums from a checking account; Allstate $10 contribution to highly localized environmental conservation or restoration projects identified by environmental co-collaborators The Nature Conservancy, America’s Wetland Foundation or Arbor Day Foundation— at no additional cost to customers.

 
As an incentive to use the new plan, customers will save up to 5% on premiums by enrolling, Allstate says.

“The positive consumer response to our Colorado and Ohio tests reaffirms our belief in the strategy of designing services and products around the consumer” said Roger Parker, assistant vice president of product innovation at Allstate. “Making it easy for customers to save money and help the environment is the ultimate win-win: good for the customer, good the company and good for the planet.”

Each of the eight new test states has identified projects for Allstate Green funds that address critical area-specific environmental projects. Those projects are:

Missouri - Allstate funds will help restoration activities for theCurrentRiver by supporting the purchase of strategic tracts of land within theCurrentRiver watershed and reselling them to private landowners who agree to conservation easements for sustainable forestry.

Allstate funds also will support the Mississippi River Floodplain Plan, a group of scientists and land conservationists working to restore and protect one million acres of the river’s floodplain, including priority levee districts in the St. Louis area.

 
Kansas - Allstate funds will invest in the Cheyenne Bottoms restoration project, an 8,000 acre wetland area in the heart of Kansas that helps prevent flooding, refills water wells and provides perfect resting and nesting areas for migrating birds such as the federally endangered whooping crane.

Allstate funds also will invest in the Flint Hills Initiative, one of few remaining tallgrass prairies in the country. Funds will support prairie restoration practices that create better plant diversity, wildlife shelter and habitat for at-risk species.

 
Michigan and Indiana - Allstate funds will focus on reforestation strategies designed to minimize and reverse the impact of the Emerald Ash Borer, an exotic Asian beetle responsible for the death of more than 30 million ash trees in southeastern Michigan alone.

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