Just two weeks after its launch, the online Juniper Bank has added insurance products to its lineup through an alliance with the insurance broker Answer Financial Inc.
"We feel our customers look at managing their finances much more broadly," said Thomas O'Donnell, director of products at Wilmington, Del.-based Juniper. "Insurance, like banking, is a part of an individual's financial life."
Answer Financial, of Los Angeles, specializes in providing insurance products for affinity groups. It has a call center as well as a Web site, and Juniper customers will be able to use both, said Steven Kroll, senior vice president of marketing for the agency.
Juniper's site provides an overview of the offerings. Visitors can click through to a cobranded Web site to apply for personal insurance products, including auto, homeowner's, renter's, term life, disability, and long-term-care.
Answer Financial is licensed in all states and represents 160 providers. It also has alliances with E-Trade Bank and Digital Insights Inc., which provides Internet banking sites for community banks.
Mr. Kroll said Answer Financial hopes to make more such alliances. Jim Gorman, senior vice president and retail brand manager at Answer Financial, calls the pairing with Juniper "a perfect match."
Juniper Bank, at www.juniper.com, was launched Oct. 23 by Richard Vague, who co-founded First USA and was its chief executive, and Jim Stewart, who was president and CEO of WingspanBank.com and executive vice president at First USA. Juniper started offering insurance last week to go with credit card services, checking and savings accounts, bill-paying, and other offerings.
Juniper Bank's parent, privately held Juniper Financial Corp. in Wilmington, is a division of Columbus Bank and Trust Co. of Columbus, Ga.
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