West Bend Provides a Silver Lining.

Fire safety at your home away from home

Peer-to-peer rentals like Airbnb and Vacation Rentals by Owner (Vrbo) continue to grow in popularity. According to iPropertyManagement, Airbnb has over six million listings and 150 million users worldwide. On any given night, two million people are staying in Airbnb rentals.

If you’re planning a vacation that includes a stay at a peer-to-peer rental, you’ve probably done quite a bit of research to find the perfect lodging. Most people make sure to check out the amenities, property and host reviews, and neighborhood, including, proximity to restaurants, shopping, and other attractions. But what about fire safety?

Properties listed on Airbnb and Vrbo aren’t regulated the same way as hotels, and fire safety requirements vary significantly across jurisdictions. It’s important you keep this in mind when booking your vacation rental. Check out these tips from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and learn what precautions to take to keep your vacation from going up in flames.

West Bend can insure your metal goods manufacturing business

Do you own or manage a metal goods manufacturing business? If so, West Bend could have the right insurance program for you!

We focus on manufacturers of stamped, rolled, turned, pressed, cut, machined, or soldered/welded products. Products manufactured are typically component parts but may include finished goods and products manufactured under their own label from material other than wood or plastic. The types of products manufactured include, but aren’t limited to, bolt, nut, screw manufacturers; cutlery and flatware manufacturers; metal pattern manufacturers; pipe or tube manufacturers; sign manufacturers; various types of tool manufacturers; machine shops; and decorative metal and precision metal products.

West Bend may be a good fit if your metal goods manufacturing business has a sprinkler system designed for your building, if painting operations are protected by NFPA standards, if you have a formal safety program that includes hot work and lockout/tagout practices, and if you employ excellent housekeeping practices.

Our underwriters know and understand what coverages are necessary to protect your business. Every business we insure is carefully evaluated to find the commercial insurance coverage that best fits their unique needs.

If you think West Bend is the right insurer for your valuable business, be sure to talk to your Official Supplier of the Silver Lining. Click here to find an agency near you.

West Bend is a Ward’s 50 P&C Top Performer!

West Bend is pleased to again be included on Ward’s annual list of 50 Property and Casualty (P&C) Top Performers in 2019. This is West Bend’s sixth consecutive year as a top 50 performer for outstanding financial results in the areas of safety, consistency, and performance over a five-year period (2014-2018).

To identify the 50 Top Performers, Ward Group analyzes the financial performance of nearly 3,000 P&C insurance companies domiciled in the United States

To receive the Ward’s 50 designation, companies must pass primary safety and consistency tests. Then Ward Benchmarking reviews their financial stability to ensure they have the potential to grow while maintaining strong financial figures. Companies that pass the safety and consistency tests are measured and scored based on several financial elements, including five-year average combined ratio, and five-year growth in surplus and revenue.