FORT WORTH, Texas, March 14, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:HALL) is pleased to announce a new product offering focused on excess capacity needs for Public Entities as part of the continued expansion and diversification of its Primary & Excess Liability operating unit.

The new product will offer excess and surplus lines insurance, distributed exclusively through designated wholesale brokers. The focus is on excess programs for all types of public entity risks including, but not limited to, cities, counties, utilities and intergovernmental risk pools. Product offerings will include excess follow form contracts, quota share agreements and reinsurance placements on a nationwide basis.

'The new product continues our efforts to expand our casualty business into the public entity space as well as the continuance of our diversification strategy to meet the needs of our clients,' stated James Damonte, President of Hallmark's Primary & Excess Casualty operating unit. 'This new product complements our long standing transportation-focused Excess & Umbrella business. It also builds on the recently released additional capabilities on E&S-focused Primary General Liability as well as increased capacity (up to $10m) for light E&S-focused Excess and Umbrella business covering a broad spectrum of classes.'

'Hallmark plans to continue to expand and diversify its primary and excess casualty offerings with key hires and product enhancements as respects limit availability and risk appetite.'

Hallmark's Public Entity product will be led by Richard Wilson, an accomplished public entity insurance specialist with 30 years of experience within the underwriting and brokerage community. Based in our Los Angeles office, Mr. Wilson can be contacted at (213) 236-3532 and rdwilson@hallmarkgrp.com.

About Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.

Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. is a diversified specialty property/casualty insurer with offices in Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Chicago, Los Angeles and Atlanta. Hallmark markets, underwrites and services approximately half a billion dollars annually in commercial and personal insurance premiums in select markets. Hallmark is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas and its common stock is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol 'HALL.'

Media Contact: Blake Zipoy, Director of Corporate Communications, bzipoy@hallmarkgrp.com

Source: Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.

Hallmark Financial Services Inc. issued this content on 14 March 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 14 March 2016 19:11:43 UTC

Original Document: http://www.snl.com/irweblinkx/file.aspx?IID=103415&FID=33382592