The Hartford ExpressWay Adds Bridge from AMS TransactNOW To Speed Auto

    Business Editors

    HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 14, 2005--

    Insurance giant begins rolling out super-fast single-entry
    automation to agents that use AMS agency management systems

    The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG) and AMS Services announced today the availability of a single-entry workflow bridge between AMS TransactNOW(TM) and The Hartford ExpressWay(sm), the insurer's superfast, quoting tool.
    Bridging to The Hartford ExpressWay from TransactNOW dramatically speeds up policy quoting and issuance for auto and homeowner policies. What's the secret? The new bridge links data from AMS management systems to The Hartford in one single-entry transaction. By leveraging single sign-on from TransactNOW, there is no need to stop and type in a separate log-on ID or password. And since the data comes directly from the management system, it's entered once and is less likely to have errors.
    "The Hartford has long been a pioneer in offering real-time workflow to its AMS agents via TransactNOW", said Hugh Anderson, director of connectivity solutions for AMS. "With the addition of this new business bridge to The Hartford ExpressWay, AMS continues to take the lead in making it easier for agents to do business with carriers directly from their management system."
    "In our pilot program testing the appeal of this tool, we found AMS agents extremely enthusiastic about ExpressWay - especially its timesaving potential," said Jonathan Bennett, senior vice president, personal lines at The Hartford. "It fits well in an agency's workflow, and our tests have repeatedly shown that agency users can get a quote and request policy issuance in as little as three minutes from the first push of the initial submission button in TransactNOW.
    "This speed and ease encourages agents to seek out quotes from The Hartford, and that's really our ultimate goal in developing this fast, elegant technology," he added. "We want to quote and write more auto and homeowners policies, and the best way to do that is to make it irresistibly easy for agents to get a quick, accurate quote to present to their clients."
    The workflow bridge from AMS' TransactNOW to The Hartford ExpressWay is rolling out now, and will be available in all states by early May. For further information, agents should contact their local personal lines sales representative from The Hartford, or call AMS at 800-444-6547.
    AMS Services is a leading provider of innovative software products and services for independent insurance agents, brokers, carriers, banks, managing general agencies and other distributors of insurance and financial services. AMS technology solutions are the main desktop applications for agencies of all sizes and help improve agent productivity and carrier/agent connectivity. To learn more about AMS products and services, call 800.444.4813 or visit our Web site at www.amsworld.com.
    The Hartford is one of the nation's largest financial services and insurance companies, with 2004 revenues of $22.7 billion. The company is a leading provider of investment products, life insurance and group benefits; automobile and homeowners products; and business property-casualty insurance. The Hartford's Internet address is www.thehartford.com.
    Some of the statements in this release may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Hartford cautions investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially. Investors should consider the important risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important risks and uncertainties include those discussed in The Hartford's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, the Hartford's 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other filings The Hartford makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Hartford assumes no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date issued.

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CONTACT: The Hartford Sue Honeyman, 860-547-4976 shoneyman@thehartford.com or AMS Sue Milant, 425-354-6048 smilant@amsworld.com

KEYWORD: CONNECTICUT INDUSTRY KEYWORD: INSURANCE BANKING SOFTWARE SOURCE: AMS

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