Fortner Insurance buys Empire Bank subsidiary

Springfield-based Fortner Insurance Services Inc. has reached an agreement to purchase Empire Bank's insurance subsidiary.

According to EmpireBank.com, Fortner Insurance agents began serving Empire Bank Insurance Agency's clients Sept. 26. The banking company issued a news release announcing the deal this morning.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed in the release.

“We have made a decision to focus our resources and efforts with our core competencies, which include financial and banking services,” Empire President and CEO Russ Marquart said in the release. “Our insurance agency has been an additional service for our customers over the years. With the competitive and highly regulated banking environment, we have to focus our resources on what has made us successful over the years, which is providing community banking services to businesses and individuals in the communities we serve."

He added the bank's goal was to find a qualified insurance agency to take on the company's clients.

Founded in 1985, Fortner Insurance, 1519 E. Sunshine St., focuses on personal, commercial, life and health insurance. As of Nov. 4, 2013, Fortner Insurance employed 14 agents, ranking the company No. 10 on Springfield Business Journal's 2013 list of the area's largest independent insurance agencies. Fortner represents insurers Allied Insurance, Auto-Owners Insurance, Brotherhood Mutual, Cameron Mutual, Columbia Mutual, Safeco Insurance, Electric Insurance Co., The Hartford, Haulers Insurance Co. Inc. and Travelers Insurance.