Best's boosts Insurance America and Securian Casualty ratings

St. Paul, MN, June 20, 2006 – Insurance America and Securian Casualty Company both received A- (excellent) financial strength ratings, according to a statement from A.M. Best. The companies, held under the Securian Financial Group, Inc. umbrella, are licensed to distribute loan protection products through financial institutions in 36 states and the District of Columbia. Between them, Insurance America and Securian Casualty manufacture a variety of property-casualty loan protection products.

"Our financial institution clients benefit from these ratings because they are a measure of our financial strength," said Chris Greene, president, Insurance America. "They can feel confident Insurance America and Securian Casualty Company will keep their promises to pay."

Securian Financial Group, which recently purchased Insurance America of Macon, Georgia, has long been one of the nation's largest providers of life insurance-based loan protection products such as mortgage life and credit life.

Securian is growing its already-large presence in the loan protection market. In 2004, Securian purchased Allied Solutions, a national distributor of products and services to financial institutions. While it remains independently operated, Allied serves as Securian's distribution arm in the financial institution market. With the purchase of Insurance America and its affiliates, Securian is poised for steady growth in the loan protection market. Securian has established the Macon operation as its property-casualty "center of excellence."

Earlier this month, A.M. Best upgraded the financial strength rating for life and health insurer Cherokee National Life – an Insurance America affiliate also held by Securian – from A- to A (excellent). The rating agency said the upgrade reflects "the strength and support of Securian Financial Group."

Securian Financial Group, Inc. (www.securian.com) was founded in 1880 and has served financial institutions for over 50 years. Securian and its subsidiaries, Allied Solutions (www.alliedsolutions.net), IA Systems (www.iasystems.com), Insurance America and Cherokee National Life (www.cnlf.com), serve more than 3,600 financial institutions across the United States.

Securian Financial Group, Inc. has $520 billion of life insurance in force, $28 billion in assets under management, and a combined work force of more than 5,000 representatives and employees in its St. Paul, MN headquarters and offices across the country. Securian serves more than 7,000,000 individuals in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

EDITOR: To receive a high-resolution photo of Chris Greene via email, contact margaret.jensen@securian.com

CONTACT: Maggie Jensen, APR, 651-665-7558, margaret.jensen@securian.com