A Bridge to Better

“Our primary purpose is to create a company sponsored by excellent agents and one that would build the relationship of partnership with the agents.”

– Jack Schiff, Sr., Company Founder
Jack Schiff Sr. at the signing of the company’s first burglary insurance policyJack Schiff Sr. at the signing of the company’s first burglary insurance policy

Putting People First

As The Cincinnati Insurance Companies celebrates 75 years of being A Bridge to Better, we honor our legacy of putting people first and our commitment to meeting the ever-evolving needs of agents and policyholders. 

Over the course of our anniversary year, we’ll share how our unique hallmarks of focusing solely on independent agents, empowering local field associates, crafting innovative risk management solutions and building a foundation of financial strength combine to produce our company's culture and success. 

These stories mark major achievements of the past and inspire Cincinnati associates of today and tomorrow to reach even greater heights in the next 75 years and beyond. 

Cincinnati Hallmarks

Ribbon cutting ceremony
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The Agent-Sponsored Company

We think about insurance differently. For us, the insurance business—our business—is about people. It’s about bringing your best when others may be experiencing their worst.
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Men shaking hands while reviewing the damage of the 1974 Xenia, OH tornado
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Out in the Field

Families and business owners thrive when they have an agent close to home, able to offer them the best products and service. And those agents need a dedicated, local team to help them provide it.
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1974 agents school class picture
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Class is in Session

At The Cincinnati Insurance Companies, we believe in putting relationships first and doing business the right way. It’s why we’ve always been selective in our choice of agents, and why we’ve always taken care to recruit and hire the best associates.
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Signing an insurance policy
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Pioneering Package Policies

We are always looking for new ways to better serve our clients. It’s not about innovation for innovation’s sake: Any novel product or approach must fit within our legacy of putting people and relationships first, and letting the profits follow.
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Stock certificate
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Invested for the Long Term

Security. Stability. A strong and stable financial future. That’s what insurance is all about. At The Cincinnati Insurance Companies, we also believe in giving our agents and associates the foundation they need to build for tomorrow, to think about and build for the long term, both for themselves and for our company.
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Key Moments in History

1950
Four independent agents - John J. Schiff, Robert Schiff, Chester Field and Harry Turner - form The Cincinnati Insurance Company with a vision and a promise to be the best company serving independent agents.

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1951
Cincinnati Insurance issues its first policy on January 25, 1951.
1954
Sales Meetings bring in top agents to hear directly from Cincinnati leadership – achieving a record number of 101 attendees.
1955
Cincinnati expands from Ohio to Kentucky and Indiana – embarking on our journey to expand our products and independent agency representation nationwide.

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1955
After the passage of the Ohio Multiple Line bill, Cincinnati Insurance immediately offers a comprehensive Homeowners Package Policy – described as the finest policy on the market with tremendous possibilities.

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1958
From August 21-23, field associates gather at the home office for the first time – now known as our longstanding tradition of August Meetings.
1959
Cincinnati Insurance offers stock options to associates, inviting them to share in our success as shareholders and have a stake in a company that they believe in.

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1968
Cincinnati Insurance establishes a new holding company, Cincinnati Financial Corporation – the third insurance company in the Cincinnati area to form a holding company in 1968 – opening the door to future growth and diversification, pillars of our financial strength.
1973
Cincinnati Financial Corporation rapidly expands with two new wholly owned subsidiaries, Queen City Indemnity Company and The Life Insurance Company of Cincinnati.
1973
John J. Schiff steps into the role of CEO of Cincinnati Financial Corporation.

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1973
Inter-Ocean Corporation and its three wholly owned subsidiaries merge with Cincinnati Financial through an exchange of stock. 
1974
Recognizing the importance of continuing education and equipping agents with more professional services, Cincinnati Insurance hosts its first Young Agents School and Advanced Agents School.

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1974
The Cincinnati Insurance Company weathers the storm after a series of tornadoes strike the Midwest on April 3, 1974. Claims representatives make prompt on-the-spot payment to insureds and storm teams deploy, including field supervisors whose experience and authority prove invaluable.
1978
Cincinnati Insurance holds its first President’s Club in Savannah, Georgia, for qualifying agencies. Hosted annually, we gather with our top-performing agents to strengthen partnerships and build relationships.
1978
Ambitious trainees begin our first Underwriter Training School to study Cincinnati coverages and products, demonstrating our commitment to building the best team possible for agents and policyholders.
1980
The Cincinnati Insurance Companies mark 30 years in business, celebrating the focus on profitable growth that leads them to a 25% compound annual growth rate while keeping the combined ratio below 100% since at least 1957.
1985
The Cincinnati Insurance Companies expands its infrastructure as the company grows, unveiling its new campus headquarters in Fairfield, Ohio, on land purchased from Esther R. Benzing. 
1988
The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company is formed from the two previous life subsidiaries – The Life Insurance Company of Cincinnati and Inter-Ocean Insurance Company.
1991
Robert B. Morgan becomes the next CEO of Cincinnati Financial Corporation.
1991
Cincinnati Insurance reaches more than $1 billion in direct written premiums for a single year. The “billionth” dollar policy entered on our books was a personal lines policy sold by Ohio agency Zito Insurance  - now part of Risk Strategies.
1997
Cincinnati Financial Corporation stock is added to the S&P 500, indicating that CFC stock is recognized as strong and worthy by investors.
1999
John “Jack” Schiff, Jr. becomes the next CEO of Cincinnati Financial Corporation. 
1999
Cincinnati associates and agents celebrate $2 billion by 2000 2gether.
2000
Governor Taft officially recognizes the 50th year of business for The Cincinnati Insurance Companies.
2005
Three Cincinnati catastrophe teams respond to communities affected by Hurricane Katrina while headquarters associates send more than $23,000 in donations and supplies to the Gulf Coast – delivering next-door service as rebuilding efforts begin. 
2007
Two new subsidiaries, The Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company and CSU Producer Resources Inc., are incorporated to provide excess and surplus lines insurance products, further deepening our relationships with agents.
2008
Cincinnati Insurance officially enters the excess and surplus lines market on January 1 with a policy written for a client of Murphy Insurance in Cincinnati, Ohio.
2008
Kenneth W. Stecher becomes the next CEO of Cincinnati Financial Corporation.
2009
Cincinnati Insurance launches e-CLAS® CPP – a policy administration system for commercial package and auto policies.
2010
Cincinnati Insurance launches Diamond – a policy administration system for personal lines policies.
2010
The Cincinnati Insurances Companies celebrates 60 years of business.
2011
Steven J. Johnston becomes the next CEO of Cincinnati Financial Corporation.
2015
Cincinnati Insurance introduces Cincinnati Re® and assembles an expert team to assess, quantify, price and manage reinsurance assumed risk. Cincinnati Re adds diversification to our business profile and contributes to revenues and profits.
2016
Field associates and independent agents respond to the 2016 Great Smoky Mountain wildfires in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, to help our agents and policyholders recover.
2019
Cincinnati Financial enters the global insurance market through the acquisition of Lloyd's of London Syndicate 318 and its managing agency now known as Cincinnati Global Underwriting Agency.
2021
The United States Patent and Trademark Office issues Cincinnati Insurance its first patent for the groundbreaking technology that powers CinergySM – a new small business platform recognized by industry experts and applauded by agents. 
2023
Cincinnati Insurance becomes a top high net worth carrier and rebrands HNW personal lines offerings as Cincinnati Private ClientSM.
2024
Stephen M. Spray becomes the next CEO of Cincinnati Financial Corporation.
2025
Cincinnati Insurance celebrates 75 years: A Bridge to Better Since 1950. 
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