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Over 135 Years of Operating History

Born as a modest, door-to-door life insurance business during America’s industrial age – and built to last forever – Western & Southern is today among the strongest life insurance groups. We continue to endure and thrive because we have never lost sight of our purpose – to provide financial strength and security to those we serve.

  1. 2024

    1. Western & Southern Life earned the 2024 "Top 10" Military Friendly® Employer designation for the twelfth consecutive year and was also named a “Top 10 Spouse Employer.”
      Military Friendly Top 10 Employer emblem

  2. 2023

    1. Western & Southern ranks No. 29 in the American Opportunity Index (AOI), and ranks No. 3 within the financial services industry nationally.
    2. Western & Southern becomes an Official Partner of the Cincinnati Bengals.
      Western & Southern Financial Group official partner of the Cincinnati Bengals

  3. 2022

    1. Western & Southern acquired Fabric Technologies.
      Fabric logo

  4. 2021

    1. Western & Southern extends title sponsorship of the Western & Southern Open for an additional three years.
    2. Western & Southern assets owned and managed surpass $100 billion, the highest ever in the company’s 133-year history.
    3. Western & Southern Life earned the 2022 "Top 10" Military Friendly® Employer designation for the tenth consecutive year and was also named a “Top 10 Spouse Employer” and a “Top 10 Brand.”
      Military Friendly logo 2022

  5. 2020

    1. The Lytle Park Hotel opens in downtown Cincinnati. Western & Southern owns the hotel, which was developed by its real estate subsidiary, Eagle Realty Group.
      Lytle Park Hotel exterior

  6. 2019

    1. With $7.205 billion in revenue in 2018, Western & Southern jumps 55 spots to No. 421 on Fortune 500 list.

  7. 2018

    1. Western & Southern acquired Gerber Life Insurance Company.¹
      Gerber Life Insurance logo
    2. Western & Southern lays a foundation to expand the 11-year-old Ride Cincinnati charity event into a powerhouse fundraiser for cancer research.

  8. 2017

    1. A new westernsouthern.com was launched to provide detailed information and guidance to consumers, drawing upon the company's expertise acquired from 130 years in the financial services industry.
    2. Western & Southern Financial Group posts record net income of $620.7 million on record revenues and reports that its year-end balance sheet is the strongest in history.
    3. Touchstone acquires Sentinel Funds, serving as a catalyst for expanded investment opportunities, adding four new strategies and bringing scale to several popular funds.
    4. Western & Southern forms Institutional Markets, a business unit focused on growing relationships with corporate and business clients.

  9. 2016

    1. Sales of Western & Southern’s Indextra®, the nation’s first fixed indexed annuity featuring a proprietary index from Goldman Sachs, surpass $1 billion.

  10. 2013

    1. Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc., is named a Best Place to Work in Money Management by Pensions & Investments magazine, the first of several such honors.

2011

On 1/11/2011, the Great American Tower at Queen City Square, owned by Western & Southern and developed by its real estate arm, Eagle Realty Group, is dedicated. In the same year, the company completes redevelopment of the historic Phelps Building into the Residence Inn Cincinnati, helping fuel a hotel development boom in downtown Cincinnati.

  1. 2011

    1. Cincinnati’s Western & Southern-sponsored men’s and women’s professional tennis tournaments unite under a single name, the Western & Southern Open.

  2. 2009

    1. Touchstone Investments launches 11 new mutual funds during the depths of the Great Recession.

  3. 2008

    1. Western & Southern establishes an associate/student mentoring program at Cincinnati Public School’s Withrow University High School. 

  4. 2007

    1. Western & Southern establishes the Dr. Lawrence C. Hawkins Educator of the Year Award to inspire and reward educator excellence in Cincinnati Public Schools.
      dr lawrence c hawkins
    2. The Lafayette Life Insurance Company joins Western & Southern.
    3. Insurance Profillment Solutions (IPS) is formed providing comprehensive life insurance fulfillment services for customers of partner banks.
    4. W&S Financial Group Distributors is established as the wholesale distributor of annuities and life insurance issued by Western & Southern member companies.

2002

Western & Southern becomes the title sponsor of the Western & Southern Masters, Greater Cincinnati's top-tier men's tennis tournament, helping to keep the tournament in Cincinnati. 

  1. 2002

    1. Western & Southern is named to the Fortune 500 list for the first time.

  2. 1999

    1. Western & Southern acquires Integrity Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company and Countrywide Financial Services, Inc.

  3. 1998

    1. Xavier University dedicates its business school, the Williams College of Business, in honor of Western & Southern’s second and third presidents, William John Williams and Charles Finn Williams.

  4. 1997

    1. The company's website, westernsouthern.com, was launched to connect with customers online and provide information about life insurance, annuities and retirement solutions.

  5. 1996

    1. Western & Southern assets surpass $10 billion.
    2. Columbus Life becomes the first Western & Southern member company to relocate to Cincinnati.

  6. 1995

    1. The company begins to refer to itself as the Western-Southern Enterprise. Within a few years, it takes the name Western & Southern Financial Group to reflect its growth and breadth of financial expertise.

  7. 1993

    1. Brackett Village, an affordable housing community developed by Western & Southern in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine (OTR) neighborhood, is dedicated. It helps spur OTR neighborhood redevelopment.

  8. 1992

    1. Western & Southern purchases Cincinnati’s historic Guilford School and renovates it to house modern office space and an associate fitness center.
      the guilford building in cincinnati

1989

John F. Barrett is elected president and chief operating officer, and William J. Williams becomes chairman and CEO, setting the stage for a tremendous surge of diversification, modernization and growth at Western & Southern.

  1. 1988

    1. Western & Southern celebrates its 100th anniversary.
    2. Western & Southern establishes a charitable foundation, Western & Southern Financial Fund, to support medical research, medical institutions and institutions of higher learning in Cincinnati.
    3. University of Cincinnati College of Medicine dedicates the Barrett Center for Cancer Research and Treatment, named for retired Western & Southern Chairman, President and CEO Dr. Charles M. Barrett.

  2. 1986

    1. Columbus Life is formed through Western & Southern’s merger with Columbus Mutual. It markets products through independent producers to upper middle-income and emerging affluent clients.

  3. 1973

    1. Dr. Charles M. Barrett, president from 1973 to 1984, advances the company toward industry leadership, develops new products and improves associate training and technology.
      charles m barrett

  4. 1968

    1. Western & Southern enters the banking business by purchasing Southern Ohio Bank and, in 1970, Eagle Savings Association. Changes in the banking and regulatory environment cause the company to eventually exit the business.

  5. 1963

    1. In the early 1960s, construction of the northeast expressway (now I-71) threatens to destroy Lytle Park. Western & Southern pays to slab over the expressway, allowing the city to reconstruct Lytle Park above it.

  6. 1957

    1. The company installs its first mainframe computer, “Waldo,” and institutes education and training to help associates embrace the new technology and the career opportunities it creates.

  7. 1954

    1. Under Charles M. Williams, president from 1950 to 1957, and then William C. Safford, president from 1957 to 1973, Western & Southern begins a period of rapid expansion, acquiring nine insurance companies and two banks over 14 years.

  8. 1952

    1. Company assets rise to $507 million. Reserves and surplus increase to $445 million and $35 million, respectively, and the company pays $12 million in death claims.

1948

Western & Southern reorganizes as a mutual company owned by its policyholders, completing the process in 1948, its 60th anniversary.

  1. 1943

    1. The company asks associates to earmark 10 percent of their pay to purchase war bonds during World War II.

  2. 1941

    1. During World War II, approximately 550 Western & Southern associates serve on active duty in the armed services. Unusual for the times, the company pays those serving a $50-a-month gratuity to supplement their military pay.

  3. 1939

    1. Western & Southern constructs the first Crib of the Nativity holiday display, a gift to the people of Greater Cincinnati, in Lytle Park.

1938

The company celebrates its Golden Jubilee by inviting all 700 home office associates to a banquet at a downtown hotel.

  1. 1937

    1. The company establishes the Cooperative Insurance Disability and Retirement plan for associates, the precursor to today’s fully funded pension plan.

  2. 1931

    1. In the depths of the Great Depression, President Charles F. Williams announces two salary increases for the sales force, along with a tuition aid plan and more liberal vacation policies for home office associates.

  3. 1916

    1. Western & Southern dedicates its magnificent, new home office building at Fourth and Broadway in Cincinnati.

  4. 1914

    1. Western & Southern declares its first dividend – $185,000.

  5. 1913

    1. In its 25th anniversary year, the company sells $25 million in new life insurance and purchases the National Progressive Life Company of Cincinnati, its first corporate acquisition.

  6. 1910

    1. William J. Williams and his brother Charles F. Williams purchase a controlling interest in Western & Southern. Through successive presidencies, they chart a course of steady, stable growth for 40 years.
      william j williams

1888

William J. Williams sells policy number 1 to William Cholmondelely on May 7, 1888.

  1. 1888

    1. The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company is established in Cincinnati to provide weekly premium life insurance that industrial workers can afford. Dr. Frank Caldwell becomes president and William J. Williams, company secretary.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
1Gerber Life Insurance is a trademark. Used under license from Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. and Gerber Products Company.