Ease of doing business

Our aim is to make it as easy as possible for customers to do business with us. We offer a variety of options, including our own tied agents and sales force, brokers, independent financial advisers and business associates. People can also deal with us direct via telephone or the Internet. More than 50,000 agents represent Zurich worldwide, and we are expanding our links with independent distributors such as banks, credit unions, stores, motor dealerships and filling stations.

This flexible approach also applies when it comes to handling claims. Customers can deal with us direct or via brokers, agents or loss adjusters. In Switzerland and the US, networks of HelpPoints provide centers where customers can arrange for damage to their car or home to be repaired quickly and claims settled expeditiously.

Our Global Life business focuses on cooperation with brokers, independent financial advisers and banks, including our major business associate Deutsche Bank. In the US, Farmers’ agents can help their customers to buy simple life cover products online, with automatic electronic underwriting and near-instant policy issue for proposals that do not require medical follow-up.

Through our International Program System, corporate customers can be provided with selected information about their worldwide program that would be almost impossible to gather manually. This includes underwriting, premium, claims and accounting information.

In the US, insurance agents and small business customers can use a free Web-based service to identify causes of loss and to access recommended solutions for minimizing them.

A network of partnerships and alliances helps to increase the range of products and services we can offer our customers. Here are some examples.

Our partnerships

• In Europe, we have an agreement with Deutsche Bank for the mutual distribution of products and services in key markets such as Germany, Italy and Spain.
• In Germany, we have a distribution partnership with ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobilclub), a roadside assistance organization which has nearly 15 million members.
• Also in Germany, we offer car insurance via more than 520 JET filling stations and 400 C&A stores
• In Spain, we sell motor insurance through one of the country’s largest savings banks
• In the US, we are the third-largest small business insurer in the independent agent channel, with 39,000 agents
• In the US, Farmers New World Life focuses on protection products for the middle income market, which has 63 million households
• In the UK, the former Zurich Advice Network of franchisees has become a retail distribution company called Openwork, which sells Zurich products and those from third parties