Mission Statement:

Since 1895, the mission of Sterling Insurance Company has been to provide "unexcelled service and sound insurance protection" to its policyholders.  And for over a century, we've delivered on our promise.  In our first one hundred years, we've succeeded by doing two things exceedingly well.  First, we've built a solid financial base on which our policyholders can rely.  Our reserves and investment strategies are designed to assure that we can always meet our obligations.  Second - and of equal importance - we strive to build solid relationships with those whom we work:  our policyholders; our agents; our employees; and the community in which we live and conduct business.  This has given us a direct and personal understanding of the needs and goals of our business partners.

Today, we bring to our work a commitment to the principles of our mission statement that only a century of experience can provide.  A century of insuring people against loss.  A century of helping people rebuild.  A century of participating in the growth and progress of our community.

There really is no secret to our success, except perhaps that of standing solidly behind the services we provide.  And that, after all, is what we think "unexcelled service and sound insurance protection" is all about.

We look forward to building a strong relationship with you.

Sterling's Philosophy:

The strength of our company lies not in the building where we work, nor in the volume of insurance business we write.  Rather, it lies in the honest relationships we've established with our agent representatives and with our policyholders.

It is the service to our constituencies that provides the foundation upon which our company is built.  It fuels our thoughts and guides our decisions.  We believe our dedication to the constant improvement of the quality of service we provide is the single most important element of our success, and sets us apart in a very competitive and evolving industry.  We take great pride in our ability to respond quickly to the needs of our customers.

For our policyholders, we understand the importance of delivering on the peace-of-mind that comes with their insurance contract.  We realize that our true worth is often uncovered at the time of a loss, and we work hard to mitigate our insured's misfortune with prompt, compassionate service and a fair settlement.  We are committed to providing quality insurance products at a reasonable cost.

For our agency representatives, we understand the importance of having decision-makers available and ready to provide assistance.  Equally important is our ability to process requests in a timely fashion.  We realize that an agency is only as good as the company it represents, and honesty is the cornerstone of our relationships.  You can always count on us to be open and sincere, and to stand by our word.  From underwriting exposures, to issuing policies, to adapting to change, we adhere to the highest level of professional conduct.  By expeditiously doing our part, we allow our agents to concentrate on meeting the needs of the policyholders.

Financial integrity is a critical factor in all our business relationships, because it measures our ability to meet the obligations due our policyholders.  As an insurance provider, our business is insuring our policyholders' interests, rather than taking risks of our own.  We carefully manage our assets and adhere to a very conservative investment strategy consisting principally of government and investment-grade bonds.  As a result, Sterling is well-positioned to continue as one of the leading providers of personal and small commercial lines of insurance for people and their businesses throughout New York State.

For more than one hundred years, we've focused on three basic principles:  building financial strength; enacting innovative and proactive management practices; and maintaining an unwavering commitment to those we serve.

Sterling's History:

On August 27, 1895, a meeting of citizens was held at the Hotel Augustan in Cobleskill, New York, to consider establishment of a mutual fire insurance company.  At that time, it was difficult for rural property owners to purchase affordable fire insurance.  An organization meeting was held on October 17, 1895, and the Schoharie and Otsego Mutual Fire Insurance Company was established, commencing business in January 1896.

The company offices were originally located in the Ryder, LeFevre and Company building on Main Street, moving to 9 Main Street in 1902.  In 1910, the corporate name was changed to Sterling Fire Insurance Company in recognition of the geographic expansion of operations. In 1921, the company offices were moved to 36 Main Street.  In 1941, the charter was amended to extend the company’s territory to the entire state and in 1951 the company merged with the Empire Co-operative Fire Insurance Company of Middleburgh.  In 1952, the company occupied its new home office building at 1 Elm Street.  In 1953, the Wyoming Valley Fire Insurance Company of Warsaw, NY was merged.  The present title was adopted in 1959, to reflect the company’s expansion into other lines of business, particularly casualty. In 1989, the company began writing personal automobile policies.

A wholly-owned subsidiary, Sterling Marketing Services, Inc., was established in 1993.

The present facility on Barnerville Road was constructed in 1978, and enlarged in 1981 and 1989.  The home office building encompasses 30,000 square feet on nine acres within the village of Cobleskill.  Over 50,000 policyholders are served by our employees and over 400 independent agents throughout New York State.

The company is proud of its heritage.  Its directors, officers, and staff look forward to continuing a tradition of providing financial security and unexcelled service to policyholders.