Core systems

Agents responding to a survey say their customer service reps save several hours daily by using electronic, real-time carrier sites/portals, but there’s still room for improvement.

Broker pays $4.9 billion to acquire outsourcing consultancy Hewitt Associates.

The platform should help Dearborn National eliminate the cost of keeping up with changes to desktop word processing tools.

The European Claims Vendors report for 2010 praised FINEOS for its delivery track record and product investments.

FAB Billing is designed to enable better service for insureds and agents.

German reinsurer firm selects Tata Communications to deploy and manage Telepresence Service in 16 countries across the world.

Personal lines property/casualty carriers received confirmation yesterday of a business strategy that works: Claimants of insurance companies that provide highly satisfying property claims experiences are considerably more likely to renew with their insurer and recommend their insurer to others, according to the J.D. Power and Associates’ (http://businesscenter.jdpower.com/) 2010 U.S. Home Claims Satisfaction Study released yesterday.

Three charged in New York with stealing nearly $500,000 from Progressive and Mercury by forging and cashing claims checks.

Annual survey shows fewer implementations this year; management reporting a priority.

Experts contend there's a market for mobile transactions, which aren't limited to mobile-related purchases, but anything consumers might pay for over the Internet or in person, including insurance.

Auto parts, market conduct rules on the docket at legislators’ summer meeting.

SourceMedia and MyPRGenie announce a partnership in which MyPRGenie will distribute its clients' press releases to SourceMedia's audience.

National Western Life Insurance, an Austin, Texas-based provider of individual universal life, whole life and term insurance plans, annuity products, and investment contracts, launched the iGO e-App for its life and annuity products on a global scale. The technology deal between National Western Life and iPipeline, an Exton, Pa.-based provider of on-demand software, makes it possible for iGo users to take advantage of intelligent fillable forms designed to simplify and accelerate the marketing, selling and processing of insurance applications.

Moody's affirms ratings of New York Life and TIAA-CREF Life Insurance; A.M. Best and S&P react to Fidelity National Financial’s merger announcements.

Unusual circumstances, geographies and risk concentrations contributed to higher-than-normal natural catastrophe losses, notes German reinsurer Munich Re, which points to the first half of 2010 as being marked by an exceptionally large number of natural catastrophes and the scale of the losses they caused.

The insurer settled its suit with the Connecticut AG regarding a lost drive in 2009 that contained the health info of 1.5 million members.

A year ago, Northeast Bancorp projected 10% annual growth in its insurance business, but instead is eking out growth of 1% to 2%.

Nationwide survey shows that 38% of drivers say they have been hit or nearly hit by a driver distracted by a cell phone.

Prudential CEO to apologize to shareholders, while AIG board and CEO remain at odds.

Just ahead of midyear reinsurance treaty renewals, the June 2010 composite Property/Casualty rate index, released by Dallas-based MarketScout, an insurance exchange comprising primarily independent retail agents, measured down 3% as compared to the same time one year ago.