State Farm

Public Mixed On City Trying To Save State Farm Building

By Eric Stock • Aug 8, 2019

State Farm listening session — Eric Stock / WGLT

Bloomington residents remain divided over what role the city should play in trying to save State Farm's downtown former headquarters that the company plans to demolish.

That's according to feedback Bloomington City Council member Jenn Carrillo said she has received during two listening sessions and community surveys over the last week.

Group Brings Together State Farm, Rivian And Illinois' Other Autonomous Vehicle Leaders

By Ryan Denham • Aug 8, 2019

Charging station at Rivian plant — Eric Stock / WGLT

The future of driving will be a system of systems: Cars talking to other cars talking to road sensors talking to traffic signals talking to nearby businesses.

Group Aims To Save Downtown State Farm Building

By Eric Stock • Aug 2, 2019

State Farm sign on building — Staff / WGLT

A group of nearly 20 downtown Bloomington stakeholders is coming together to explore ways to save State Farm’s former headquarters.

State Farm Survey Finds Dumber Driving In Smarter Cars

By Ryan Denham • Jul 31, 2019

motorist talks on a cell phone — Nam Y. Huh / AP

A new survey from State Farm finds early autonomous technology in cars may inadvertently create more distracted drivers by lulling them into a false sense of security.

Renner: City Working To Find Alternatives To State Farm Building Demolition

By Ryan Denham • Jul 23, 2019

Tari Renner at podium — Jeff Smudde / WGLT

Mayor Tari Renner said Tuesday he’ll do “everything I can” to find a solution that avoids the demolition of State Farm’s historic building in Downtown Bloomington.

State Farm To Demolish Downtown Building After Sale Falls Through

By Ryan Denham & Charlie Schlenker • Jul 18, 2019

UPDATED 11 a.m. | State Farm said Thursday that it plans to demolish its former downtown Bloomington building after the planned sale fell through.

Popular Gamer DrLupo Touts Growth Of Esports During State Farm Visit

By Joe Deacon • Jun 27, 2019

DrLupo playing — Samantha Lupo / Courtesy

On his 30th birthday two years ago, Ben Lupo decided to walk away from a six-figure salary with an Omaha insurance company and take a chance at becoming a professional gamer.

State Farm Denies Allegations In Agents-In-Training Lawsuit

By Ryan Denham • May 15, 2019

State Farm HQ building — Ralph Weisheit / WGLT

State Farm has denied the allegations of a federal lawsuit filed by two New York men who say they were fraudulently recruited into an agent training program and improperly denied employee benefits.

Photos: Storyteller Right At Home Inside State Farm's Archives

By Ryan Denham • May 13, 2019

There is treasure buried underneath State Farm’s corporate headquarters.

No, not literally treasure. More like a treasure trove.

Insurance Industry Report On Marijuana, Driving Finds 'Rocky Road So Far'

By Ryan Denham • Apr 11, 2019

Lawmakers are facing all sorts of thorny issues as they consider legalizing recreational marijuana. Near the top of the list: Will it lead to more impaired drivers?

Old State Farm Building To House Restaurant, Retail, Offices

By Mary Cullen • Mar 25, 2019

If all goes as planned, the historic former home of State Farm in Downtown Bloomington will house offices, retail space, and at least one restaurant.

State Farm Faces Lawsuit Over Agents As Independent Contractors

By Ryan Denham • Mar 15, 2019

Two men from upstate New York have filed a federal lawsuit against State Farm, accusing the insurer of fraudulently recruiting them into an agent training program and improperly denying them benefits.

State Farm Finds Buyer For Downtown Bloomington Building

By Ryan Denham • Mar 6, 2019

State Farm said Wednesday that it has found a buyer for its downtown Bloomington building.

Disrupting Or Helping? Insurtech CEO Sees Partnerships With Legacy Insurers

By Ryan Denham • Mar 5, 2019

On paper, it looks like a battle to the death: Legacy insurers like State Farm facing off against a wave of tech startups looking to disrupt their entire business model. It’s Airbnb versus hotels, or Uber versus cabs, all over again.

Lower Catastrophe Losses Help State Farm's Bottom Line In 2018

By Ryan Denham • Mar 1, 2019

Lower catastrophe losses helped offset a rocky year for State Farm’s stock portfolio in 2018, leading to the largest operating profit in years for the insurer’s property-casualty business, the company announced Friday.

State Farm To Reduce Illinois Auto Rates 2 Percent

By Mary Cullen • Feb 19, 2019

Nearly 3 million State Farm customers in Illinois are in for a lower auto insurance rate beginning next month. The insurance company is cutting rates by 2 percent.

How To Avoid Frozen Pipes When Temperatures Plunge

By Ryan Denham • Jan 29, 2019

In 2018 Illinois was the national leader—or more accurately, loser—for the amount of insurance claims paid out because of frozen pipes and ice dams caused by extreme cold.

Report: Insurance Industry Faces 'Talent Crisis'

By Ryan Denham • Jan 15, 2019

A new report says that insurance companies will have to be more proactive—and pay more—to find and retain employees amid a “talent crisis” for the industry.

State Farm Earns FAA's First National Drone Waiver

By Ryan Denham • Jan 10, 2019

State Farm employees launches drone — State Farm

State Farm has become the first company granted a national waiver by the Federal Aviation Administration to fly drones over people and beyond the pilot’s line of sight.

State Farm Steady Employment At Year End

By Charlie Schlenker • Dec 27, 2018

In spite of community worries over the number and average pay of State Farm employees in Bloomington-Normal, the company said the number of jobs is closing the year steady.

Talent Competition Tough For Midsized Cities

By Charlie Schlenker • Dec 19, 2018

The mayor of Normal acknowledges the development of new State Farm hubs across the south and west has changed the distribution of talent in the community.

State Farm Bank Sanctioned Over Handling Of Credit Reports

By Ryan Denham • Dec 14, 2018

State Farm Bank has been ordered to change its practices after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found it violated federal law by improperly obtaining consumer credit reports and failing to quickly correct bad information it was supplying to credit reporting agencies.