First County Bank has announced the launch of a specialized suite of insurance lending solutions on its newly positioned insurance lending platform. These innovative financial products are designed to help insurance agencies support and expand their operations while also providing individual clients with sophisticated tools to secure life insurance coverage while efficiently managing personal assets.
As a long-standing partner to local businesses, First County Bank is introducing two primary lending platforms: Life Insurance Premium Financing and products to support the needs of insurance agencies. Designed to provide a wider range of options for individuals to obtain larger life insurance benefits for estate and liquidity planning purposes, this solution allows policyholders to secure substantially increased death benefit coverage limits without triggering taxable events or liquidating current investments. By leveraging the policy’s cash value as collateral, clients can keep their assets working for them while the bank issues loans to cover high-value premium payments.
“We understand the vital role life insurance plays in estate planning,” said Greg Pastor, vice president and commercial banking officer at First County Bank. “Our premium financing product allows clients to protect what matters most while maintaining their long-term investment momentum.”
Recognizing that the foundation of any agency is its “book of business,” First County Bank now offers tailored loan solutions to help agencies achieve their management, growth and succession goals. These flexible solutions support a variety of needs, including:
• Expansion & Acquisition: Funding for mergers or acquisitions and acquiring established commission portfolios.
• Working Capital: Lines of credit and term facilities to support day-to-day cash flow needs.
• Succession & Growth: Financing for partnership buyouts and team lift-outs.
• Real Estate & Technology: Loans for acquiring agency property, refinancings and technology improvements.
“At First County Bank, we remain a trusted partner to local businesses in many types of industries,” said Richard Muskus, senior vice president and chief lending officer. “We understand the unique nuances of the insurance business and these enhanced loan options on First County Bank’s Insurance Lending platform reinforce our commitment to delivering innovative solutions and expert guidance to both agencies and their clients.”.
Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, for 175 years, First County Bank, is an independent mutual community bank with 13 branches in Stamford, Norwalk, Darien, Greenwich, Fairfield, New Canaan, and Westport offering deposit products, mortgages, wealth management, business banking services, and a full array of digital banking products including mobile and online banking. It has more than 220 employees, assets in excess of $2.2 billion and is a winner of the Hearst Connecticut Top WorkPlaces Award 2020-2025.
