The Hartford has joined the TrustedChoice.com commercial insurance platform in an effort to further support the growth of independent agents. The Trusted Choice website helps connect consumers who are shopping for insurance with a local independent agent who can help them choose the right insurance coverage for their business.

“Independent agents are key trusted advisors in helping prepare and protect small business owners from the unexpected,” said Stephanie Bush, senior vice president of Small Commercial insurance at The Hartford. “Independent agents are fundamental to our business and we continuously look for ways to help them grow.”

The Hartford will pilot the program in Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington, DC.

“The Hartford is a leader in the independent insurance agency channel,” said Chip Bacciocco, CEO of TrustedChoice.com. “Adding The Hartford to our platform provides independent agents with more opportunity to capture new commercial insurance clients.”

Bob Rusbuldt, CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents and Broker America, said, “The Hartford has always been very supportive of the independent agency system and to have the company join TrustedChoice.com is a testament to the strength of the local independent agent.”

About TrustedChoice.com

TrustedChoice.com partners with independent insurance agencies and carrier partners to connect insurance buyers with the right local insurance agent. When an insurance buyer using TrustedChoice.com specifies an insurance need, their proprietary search engine finds and displays a list of local independent insurance agents with the skills and expertise necessary to serve that insurance buyers need. The insurance buyer then chooses the agency with whom they wish to work.

About The Hartford

With more than 200 years of expertise, The Hartford (NYSE: HIG) is a leader in property and casualty insurance, group benefits and mutual funds. The company is widely recognized for its service excellence, sustainability practices, trust and integrity. More information on the company and its financial performance is available at www.thehartford.com. Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheHartford. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TheHartford.

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Some of the statements in this release may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially. Investors should consider the important risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important risks and uncertainties include those discussed in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q, and the other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date issued.

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