Pennsylvania Agencies Securus Group and Dunlop Agency Merge

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December 3, 2009 Thursday 11:44 AM EST

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Pennsylvania Agencies Securus Group and Dunlop Agency Merge

Chad Hemenway

LANCASTER, Pa.

Two insurance agencies in Pennsylvania announced said they plan to merge effective Nov. 19, according to an executive with Securus Group of Lancaster, Pa.

Steve Bregman, vice president of sales and strategic initiatives at Securus, said the merger with the Wyomissing, Pa.-based Dunlop Agency will allow the company to "grow and expand the services we can offer to our clients." The merger increases the new firm's capabilities in South Central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley markets, he said.

"We are well-positioned to offer our quality, protection and compliance services," Bergman said.

Securus will continue to operate out of its main office in Lancaster. What will now be known as The Securus Dunlop Group will continue to have an office in Wyomissing. Bregman said the Dunlop name is recognized in the area and Securus "didn't want to lose that."

Together the companies will "be able to expand our insurance, employee benefits, bonding, third-party administration and financial services network," Ray Shirk, president and chief executive officer of Securus Dunlop Group, said in a statement.

According to its Web site, Dunlop Agency offers personal, commercial, life, health and group insurance as well as retirement plans through more than 30 insurance company partners.

The Securus Dunlop Group office in Wyomissing will continue to be managed by Art Dunlop and Rich Keith, Securus said.

(By Chad Hemenway, associate editor, BestWeek: [email protected])

December 4, 2009