A Message From Zurich Insurance To Holocaust Survivors And Heirs

Zurich Insurance Group remains committed to thoroughly investigate and evaluate all inquiries on life insurance policies from the World War II era and to honor all justified claims. Zurich believes that it has in place a just, compassionate and equitable process for addressing claims of Holocaust survivors and heirs of Holocaust victims. Moreover, Zurich welcomes and supports the initiative launched by the National Association of Insurance Commissio-ners to develop a mechanism for the rapid resolution of Holocaust-related insurance claims.

In the period prior to and during World War II, Zurich, opera-ting under the name of Vita Life, had developed a small life insu-rance portfolio in various European countries. Through acquisitions in the sixties and nineties, respectively, Agrippina Life in Germany and Geneva Life in Switzerland became members of the Zurich Group. At all relevant times though, Zurich held a minor market position in Germany and German occupied territories. Nevertheless, if you or a member of your family has reason to believe that you are the beneficiary of a Zurich life insurance policy dating from that time period, your inquiry can be channeled through your state insurance commissioner’s office or you may contact us directly at our Help Line telephone number listed below. Any inquiry will be handled with expediency, understan-ding and compassion.

To further underline its commitment, Zurich has also formed an independent four person international Commission of Eminent Persons. Its members are: John C. Whitehead, former Deputy Secretary of State during the Reagan administration and currently Chairman of the Board of the International Rescue Committee; Rabbi Arthur Schneier, President of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation and Senior Rabbi of New York City’s Park East Synagogue; Margrith Bigler-Eggenberger, former Justice of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, and György Surányi, President of the National Bank of Hungary. The Commission has been set up to review and help resolve Holocaust-related life insurance cases submitted to the company.

You can reach us at our HELP LINE number (888) 301-9740.