Sixteen Companies Renew Qualification in IMSA, Ethical Standards Organization

BETHESDA, MD -- 06/15/07 -- Sixteen prominent companies have qualified to renew their membership in the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association (IMSA), the premier standards-setting organization for the life insurance marketplace.

IMSA President & CEO Brian Atchinson applauded the following companies for completing the rigorous, independent review of their marketing, sales and compliance practices required every three years to qualify for renewed IMSA membership:

-- AEGON companies including,
   -- Life Investors Life Insurance Company of America, Cedar Rapids, IA;
   -- Monumental Life Insurance Company, Cedar Rapids, IA
   -- Peoples Benefit Life Insurance Company, Frazer, PA;
   -- Stonebridge Life Insurance Company, Plano, TX;
   -- Transamerica Financial Life Insurance Company, Purchase, NY;
   -- Transamerica Life Insurance Company, Cedar Rapids, IA;
   -- Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company, Los Angeles, CA;
   -- Veterans Life Insurance Company, Frazer, PA; and
   -- Western Reserve Life Assurance Co. of Ohio, St. Petersburg, FL;
-- Baltimore Life Insurance Company, Owings Mills, MD;
-- Bankers Fidelity Life Insurance Company, Atlanta, GA;
-- MTL Insurance Company, Oakbrook, IL;
-- National Farm Life Insurance Company, Ft. Worth, TX;
-- Penn Mutual Group
   -- Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company, Philadelphia, PA;
   -- Penn Mutual Insurance and Annuity Company,  Philadelphia, PA; and
-- Trustmark Insurance Company, Lake Forest, IL.

"IMSA qualification is a demonstration that a company has put into place policies and procedures to help assure fair and honest treatment of customers," Atchinson said. "We commend these companies for their commitment to quality business practices that safeguard the consumer."

IMSA is the premier standards-setting organization for the life insurance, annuities and long-term care insurance marketplace for individually sold products. Qualified companies commit to maintaining high ethical standards and to being fair, honest, and open in the way they advertise, sell and service their products. IMSA qualification is for three years. The IMSA seal is a guidepost of excellence and integrity for consumers. For more information, visit www.IMSAethics.org.

For information, contact:
Susan Beach
240-744-3021