The Standard completes the acquisition of Allstate's employer voluntary benefits business for $2 billion, plus more insurtech news.

The Fitzgerald-based Colony Bankcorp agreed to pay $3.5 million to purchase an agency in Monroe, Georgia. The deal signals the potential return of more banks buying insurers than selling them.

Publicly traded lenders, including UWM, Rocket Mortgage and Guild Mortgage, saw personnel expenses increase significantly throughout last year.

Economic conditions, hiring and the quality of startup insurtechs may also affect M&A activity in the insurance industry, according to a partner at Clyde & Co., a law firm that reports on insurance industry growth.

The Nationwide Agency Forward survey suggests mid-market business owners are concerned about economic and financial risks, regulatory changes, technological disruption and workforce shortages.

Ergo, the primary insurance business of Munich Re has announced the acquisition of Next Insurance for $2.6 billion.

Rising insurance costs are leading providers and condo associations to consider changes to policies that would make some loans ineligible for GSE sale.

The companies have held on-and-off discussions in recent months about a potential tie-up, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private.

There were about 50 funding events in the insurtech sector in February, according to a review by Digital Insurance.

HSB, a part of Munich Re, partners with Flume; Kin expands into California, plus more insurtech news.