HARTFORD, Conn.,May 24, 2005 -  The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG), long recognized as an insurance industry leader in harnessing standards-based technology for better  customer service, now is speeding up the process of placing midsize commercial accounts.

For an independent insurance agent who would have had to move in and out of multiple computer systems to place middle market business, the world is changing.  That agent now can submit new business applications directly to The Hartford for general liability, property, commercial auto and/or workers’ compensation coverage with nothing more than a few clicks of the mouse. 

It’s called “eSubmission,” and it’s currently available for agencies that use an AMS Sagitta 5.9 system. Later this year it will be available to agencies employing other agency management systems as well.

“The Hartford has won an important race toward more efficient insurance placement with its launch of eSubmission for middle market accounts, but the real victors are the agents who can now work more quickly and easily,” said Gary Thompson, senior vice president of Middle Market and Specialty Practices for The Hartford.
 
“Middle market businesses are a major focus at The Hartford, so we’re helping agents grow in that segment. We’ve streamlined most submission tasks so CSRs, producers and underwriters can spend their time on the more complex work of evaluating and meeting their customers’ needs,” Thompson added.

Merit Agency in Bridgeport, Conn., is one agency that is reaping the benefits of the technology. “Our agency uses The Hartford’s Middle Market eSubmission tools to submit new business because The Hartford has made it so easy and fast for all of us by cutting time in processing the business,” said Jessica Strazza, commercial lines representative at Merit.  “With a few clicks of the mouse, customer information is sent right from our AMS management system directly to The Hartford.  Our Hartford underwriter gets the application faster and can begin coverage conversations with us earlier. 

“These days, every customer wants an answer yesterday, and electronic submission allows us to provide them with better turn around time,” she added.

By enabling agents to work within their agency management system to transmit standards-based insurance policy application data directly to The Hartford, Middle Market eSubmission has the power to revolutionize how middle market business will be done in the future. 

More than two years ago, The Hartford pioneered electronic acceptance of schedules and other exposure information for new business submissions in the midsize segment through the use of ACORD XML.  Since then, The Hartford has also introduced eServices, such as billing, policy and claim inquiries, and endorsement requests, allowing agents to service Hartford business right from their management system. Middle Market eSubmission brings this a step further by reducing errors, improving data quality and shortening turn-around time.

“With eSubmission, middle market businesses are getting a faster response from The Hartford,” said Thompson. “Since the underwriter has the same information the agent has, they can begin their coverage conversations earlier and at a much higher level to more quickly determine whether The Hartford can provide the right coverage and price.  That way the agent can quickly close the sale or look for another carrier.”

eSubmission has been thoroughly tested at several agencies.  Nationwide roll-out has begun and will continue throughout the year.   For further information, Hartford agents should contact their local office.

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 Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K 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.