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Corbin Insurance Agency – Crisis

Nov 20, 2020

What is Corbin Insurance?

Daniel Corbin has owned and operated Corbin Insurance Agency – a State Farm insurance agency – in Bozeman, MT for 7 years. He decided to open his own office in order to become more involved in the community and be able to make decisions and direct his business himself. With a mission to be a recognizable face throughout the Gallatin Valley, Corbin Insurance provides honest and exceptional customer service their customers.

“After working for a State Farm agent for 3 years, I saw the impact that they had in our community and with our customers and decided to open my own office to do the same. I built my office from the ground up and the way I wanted it to be – a place where customers are heard, understood, and receive honest information about being adequately covered by insurance.”

Crisis and Challenges:

Corbin Insurance’s community has faced several crises throughout the year that have created many challenges for Daniel and his business. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only required them to follow various health regulations, but has also had financial ramifications on many of Corbin Insurance’s customers, making it difficult for many of them to afford and maintain their insurance amidst the many unknowns.

In addition, a lightning strike sparked a large fire in the Bridger Foothills around early September, impacting the homes, properties, and farms of many of Corbin Insurance’s customers

Corbin Insurance’s Response:

To assist customers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Daniel and his staff began making courtesy and wellness calls to their customers to check in. They helped set up alternative payment plans and informed their customers of two accommodations that State Farm Corporate was providing – a 7% rate decrease on all customers’ accounts and an overall $2 billion dividend credit spread out amongst all State Farm customers.

Daniel also spent a week assisting some of his customers and community members that were affected by the Bridger Fires. He helped a family move their valuables to their RV in case they had to leave their home, evacuated several of his customers’ and other community members’ from the area, and worked with volunteers to contain the east side of the fire until other crews from Idaho arrived. Daniel’s family also organized donations to firefighters and volunteers with food, supplies, and other necessities to support them.

“On the fifth day of driving up to the mountains to volunteer, I thought to myself: ‘This is what it’s all about. This is when you can show your true colors.’ I’m in a position – occupationally, physically, and financially – to actually go help people in our community who need it. This is exactly the kind of thing our mission talks about and I was happy to be blessed enough to help.”

Advice for Other Small Business Owners:

“The most important thing you can do to prepare for a situation or crisis like this is to form a family-orientated atmosphere with your staff. The only way I was able to go and help outside of the office is because I could rely on my team to field all the duties of our insurance office when I was out. Traumatic events like this can be very stressful on businesses, families, and communities, but having a team with a common goal to serve our community made the world of a difference.”

For more information on Corbin Insurance Agency, visit their website.