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Church Mutual retains A.M. Best A+ rating 54th consecutive year


MERRILL, Wis. (June 6, 2006) — Gerald Whitburn, president and chief executive officer of Church Mutual Insurance Company, announced this week that the company has retained its A+ (Superior) rating from A.M. Best Company for the 54th consecutive year.

"We are very pleased. The company has been able to demonstrate consistent resilience, enduring losses from nine major hurricanes over the past two years," Whitburn pointed out. "With the rating organizations witnessing very heavy disaster activity year after year with no end in sight, the bar for financial strength scrutiny is being lifted annually," he added.

A.M. Best, an independent company that began in 1899, uses rigorous standards to rate property and casualty companies across the United States. Included are balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile. Today, only 7.5 percent of commercial insurance writers enjoy Superior ratings from A.M. Best.

Church Mutual is one of only 13 out of approximately 3,000 property and casualty companies in the U.S. to maintain the A+ rating for more than 50 years. Included in that group are only three unaffiliated companies, one of which is Church Mutual. Also included in that group are only five companies incorporated at least a century ago.

"Maintaining this Superior rating does make a significant difference as the company leverages its brand in the market," Whitburn concluded.

Founded in 1897, Church Mutual insures approximately 95,000 worship centers and religious-related institutions, making it the No. 1 choice of American congregations. The company also provides property and liability coverage in the senior living market.

Church Mutual, which recently passed $1 billion in admitted assets, does business in all 50 states.

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Contact: Jay Lillge
Title: Corporate Communications Director
Phone: (715) 539-4503
E-mail: jlillge@churchmutual.com