HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY MUTUAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION

Howard County Mutual Insurance Association was founded June 15, 1890.    The formation of the local association was part of a movement throughout the rural areas of the East and Midwest to furnish fire protection for buildings and personal property that was not eligible for coverage from the standard insurance industry as it then existed.

Many of the early county mutuals were formed as a result of farmers discussing their common problems at various gatherings, resulting in many ethnic or localized names.  Our association was organized to meet a community need.

The original name of the local association was Farmers Union Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Association of Howard and Winneshiek Counties.  Incorporation in 1916 brought a new name of Farmers Mutual Insurance Association of Cresco, Iowa.  Amended Articles of Incorporation occurring in 1953, resulted in the present name of Howard County Mutual Insurance Association.  In 2000, we merged with Bohemian Mutual of Protivin, Iowa and kept the present name.

Early offices of Howard County Mutual were in the homes of the managers.  In 1938 we established our first public office in the Electric Specialty Building in Cresco.  The office moved several times after that, resulting in our present location on Highway 9 East in Cresco, Iowa.

State regulations limit our county mutual to writing coverage for farm dwellings and buildings, personal property and town dwellings to within the county in which we are domiciled and those counties contingent to Howard County.  Our insurance products are marketed through local independent agencies.

Our company is reinsured with Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company in Des Moines, Iowa.  IMT Insurance Company of Des Moines, Iowa provides liability coverage to attach to our property policies.

Howard County Mutual is owned by its policyholders and is controlled by a Board of Directors elected by the membership.  We have a full-time adjustor on staff and are fully automated to allow for all processing and servicing of your policy to be handled in-house. 

By being a mutual insurance company, Howard County Mutual Insurance Association has the opportunity to offer products that are flexible and designed to meet the specific needs of the customer while at the same time being competitively priced.

~ Proudly Serving Howard County Since 1890 ~