WESTFIELD CENTER, OHIO ? May 19, 2008 ? Westfield Insurance received the prestigious Best Practices Award of Excellence from the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers Association (Big ?I?) during last month?s 2008 Big ?I? Legislative Conference & Convention. The Company was one of five insurance carriers to receive the award.

The award recognizes those companies that have made imaginative, outstanding and unique contributions in advocating ?Best Practices? philosophies that enhance the independent agency system.  The Big ?I? Best Practices Program provides performance benchmarks and business strategies that serve as a guide to improving agency performance.

Westfield was acknowledged for its participation on the Council for Best Practices and the number of Best Practices publications in its agency sales and perpetuation training programs.  ?We are pleased to receive such an important award that honors a few select companies for their exceptional efforts in promoting and marketing Best Practices tools, seminars and philosophies throughout the year,? said Agency Operations Director Brady Polansky.

Founded in 1896, the Big ?I? is the nation?s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Learn more at www.independentagent.com.

In business for 160 years, Westfield Insurance, a member of Westfield Group, provides commercial and personal insurance in 18 states and surety services to customers in 28 states. Westfield is one of the nation?s 50 largest property and casualty insurance groups, represented by a network of over 1,200 independent insurance agencies. Westfield Group provides banking through Westfield Bank^SM and agency support through Westfield Services, Inc. Learn more about Westfield Insurance at www.westfieldinsurance.com.

Contact:
Terri Grimm, Westfield Insurance, 330.887.0515, TerriGrimm@westfieldgrp.com