Integrity. Community. Dependability.

Integrity. Community. Dependability.

MBG is dedicated to creating an insurance experience that benefits you.

We sell exclusively through independent agents, who focus on you.

We sell exclusively through independent agents, who focus on you.

Independent agents represent a number of different insurance companies. Their goal is to get to know you, understand your specific needs, and match you with the insurance company that offers the coverage, service, and price that best meets those needs. We believe the expert advice and advocacy of an independent agent is something no consumer should be without.

The MBG Experience to you:

“Through intelligent market segmentation, consistent customer focus, employment of the best people, deployment of technological solutions that create ease of doing business, fairly priced, quality products supported by superior claims service and delivered effectively through experienced independent agencies, MBG will meet our policyholders’ needs for protection and security with care and compassion.” As we do so, we will abide by our corporate core values of integrity, community and dependability.

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Quick Facts

Through intelligent market segmentation, consistent customer focus, employment of the best people, deployment of technological solutions that create ease of doing business.

   

  • Was founded in 1908.
  • Employs approximately 120 people.
  • Represented by independent insurance agents at 310 locations throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland.
  • Has a financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) from the A.M. Best Company.
  • Posted consolidated assets of $286.2 million in 2023.
  • Serves 63,000 policyholders.
  • Full line of personal and commercial insurance coverage, including homeowners, automobile, commercial package plans, business owners, contractors, workers’ compensation, and inland marine.
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History

History

In 1908, in a small Pennsylvania town built entirely of wooden structures, 14 businessmen realized they needed a way to protect themselves from the threat of fire. They decided to help one another before disaster struck. They did what many groups of business owners and farmers were doing at that time — they pooled their financial resources to form a mutual insurance association.

By paying insurance premiums into a common pool, they spread their risk among one another, giving each a better chance of recovering should his business be destroyed. That association eventually became known as Mutual Benefit Insurance Company, today a member of Mutual Benefit Group… your insurance company.

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1908

Fourteen businessmen in the oil industry boomtown of Corry, PA, form Corry Mutual Fire Insurance Company to protect their businesses from the threat of fire in “a town built entirely of wood.”

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1933

William Edward Marsh, long-time secretary/treasurer of Corry Mutual, decides the company needs “more aggressive management."

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1934

In 1908, in a small Pennsylvania town built entirely of wooden structures, 14 businessmen realized they needed a way to protect themselves from the threat of fire. 

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1935

The first policy is issued under the Mutual Benefit name. From his Huntingdon headquarters, Swigart launches a host of entrepreneurial ventures that contribute to the growth of his insurance operation. He revises Mutual Benefit’s charter so it becomes one of the first companies in the region to offer comprehensive and collision coverage for vehicles financed through a bank or loan company.

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1948

Emmert Swigart establishes Mutual Benefit Casualty Company to offer auto and personal liability coverage.

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1949

Emmert Swigart dies, leaving his sons, John W. and William E. Jr., in charge of the business. John focuses on building a strong financial base and training a top-notch workforce. William concentrates on developing agency relationships and marketing.

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1951

Mutual Benefit Fire absorbs Mutual Benefit Casualty to become Mutual Benefit Insurance Company. An average policy sells for $17.

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1961

A third generation of the Swigart family, John Jr., joins the company, overseeing computerization of the business and assuming responsibility for company operations when his father retires.

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1979

The company installs its first computer – an IBM 5110 – but there’s still plenty of paperwork.

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1983

Swigart Associates is handling $40 million in business as a managing general agent when the main firm it services decides to assume responsibility for its own management. Swigart’s makes the bold choice to build Mutual Benefit Insurance Company (which had only $6 million in business at the time) into a first-rate regional carrier in its own right.

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1992

Mutual Benefit has increased its premium writings by more than six times to $39 million, growing so much that it adds to its facilities by constructing the Oneida Building. Steve Sliver is hired as president of Mutual Benefit Insurance Company.

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1997

Swigart Associates is sold to Mutual Benefit Insurance Company. Mutual Benefit becomes the owner of five subsidiary companies as the result, and Steve Sliver is appointed chief executive officer.

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1998

Mutual Benefit Insurance Company celebrates its 90th year and unveils a new logo and a new name, Mutual Benefit Group (MBG).

History

2005

MBG breaks ground for a 43,000-square-foot expansion project, The Cornerstone Building.

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2008

As Mutual Benefit marks its 100th year in business, CFO Joe Sloan names Tom Bailey an honorary member of the Board of Directors in recognition of his 62 years as a policyholder, holding the longest active policy on record during the Company’s centennial year.

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2014

For the fifth year in a row, MBG is named one of the Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania.

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2016

The Insurance Analytics department started.

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2018

Duck Creek Claims on Demand.

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2022

Steve Sliver retired as CEO of MBG after 30 years.

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2023

Gary Williams named CEO of MBG.

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2024

MBG earned the Standard Excellence Customer Award for integrating the Splice Software texting solution and Splice NPS Survey Solution with Duck Creek OnDemand Claims.

Testimonials

Following are anonymous comments made by Mutual Benefit employees on the Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania survey.

Testimonials

"

Mutual Benefit consistently demonstrates that it is employee-focused and values its employees’ families and personal pursuits as much as their work contributions. Values such as good health and community involvement are promoted. Simply put, this company understands that an all-around happy person makes a loyal and hard-working employee.

Mutual Benefit Employee

"

There is emphasis on education, employee empowerment, work-life balance, and a healthy lifestyle. The Company sees me as a person with potential and skills that help advance the organization, and views me as a multi-faceted person, not just a cog in a corporate wheel.

Mutual Benefit Employee

"

Mutual Benefit consistently demonstrates that it is employee-focused and values its employees’ families and personal pursuits as much as their work contributions. Values such as good health and community involvement are promoted. Simply put, this company understands that an all-around happy person makes a loyal and hard-working employee.

Mutual Benefit Employee

"

There is emphasis on education, employee empowerment, work-life balance, and a healthy lifestyle. The Company sees me as a person with potential and skills that help advance the organization, and views me as a multi-faceted person, not just a cog in a corporate wheel.

Mutual Benefit Employee

Why a Mutual Company?

‘Mutual insurance is an idea whereby every man might help another’

The first mutual fire insurance company was established in England in 1696. Benjamin Franklin understood the wisdom of the concept and brought it to America in 1752 by founding the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses From Loss by Fire. As Franklin put it, “Mutual insurance is an idea whereby every man might help another, without any disservice to himself.”

As author John Bainbridge writes in Biography of an Idea: The Story of Mutual Fire and Casualty Insurance, “Mutual insurance is insurance in its purest form.” Many people today are unaware that they are part of a mutual insurance company. They are unaware that by paying their premiums, they are part of a heritage whereby they help provide themselves and others with financial protection from life’s unforeseen misfortunes.

The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies explains that mutuals are owned by their policyholders, unlike stock insurance companies that are owned by investors who may have no other connection with the company. And, unlike stock companies, mutual companies exist solely to serve the insurance needs of their policyholders, not to produce investment profits for stockholders. Policyholders of a mutual company may share profits in the form of policyholder dividends. In many instances, they benefit from premium rates that are lower than those of comparable stock insurance companies because mutual enterprises don’t have to worry about shareholder return.

As Bainbridge points out, the company founded by Franklin 24 years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence is still in business today.  “Mutual insurance has flourished like America itself and has kept pace with the changing needs of an expanding nation. Two hundred years ago mutual insurance provided protection against fire and nothing else; today it provides protection against fire and practically everything else. Insurance is indispensable to a free economy and a free society because it protects the things we own and produce, but also gives us the confidence to continue to own and produce more. The basic function of insurance is to provide security…and that is a concept that neither figures nor words can adequately describe.”

 

Quote

Quote

I am extremely proud of our people, the MBG culture, and the Huntingdon community. We are all accepting the challenges, working together, and demonstrating the resiliency and perseverance that has sustained Mutual Benefit Group for 115 years.