American Skyline Opens Doors in Baltimore, D.C.

With support from Baltimore city officials, American Skyline Insurance Co. announced it will provide standard personal and commercial insurance products to customers in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. beginning late in the second quarter of 2001.

The downtown Baltimore-based company expects to expand to other urban centers across the country over the next five years. The company’s initial product offerings will include homeowners, personal auto and small commercial or business owners policies.

The concept of a city-focused insurance company grew from years of first-hand experience of a group of seasoned insurance professionals who came together to create the new company. CEO Earnest Hines, 52, a 25-year veteran of industry leading companies including Allstate, USF&G, and The St. Paul Company, said that many of the nation’s largest carriers prefer to focus on services they provide well which sometimes excludes city markets.

The company will design its products, as well as its claims, underwriting, and customer service operations to fit the special needs of city customers, said Hines. Internet-based and wireless technologies are expected to factor heavily in the new company’s operations and marketing efforts. American Skyline Insurance is a predominantly minority-owned business.