CiDirect Opens Unique Call Center to Fill Industry Void

CiDirect, an Iowa based organization owned by ZC Sterling, a provider of outsourcing solutions for mortgage servicing organizations, has chosen Taos, New Mexico as the location for their new bilingual insurance sales and service call center. The center will employ fully licensed bilingual insurance agents to provide call center and marketing campaign services to its clients allowing them to expand into the Hispanic market. CiDirect is the first to provide uch services to insurance carriers.

The initiative began at the request of CiDirect’s clients to expand their products to include bilingual services. Mary Bro, President of CiDirect said, “Research indicates that significant portions of the US Hispanic population are non-English speaking, and many large insurance companies are currently recruiting and training Spanish-speaking field agents. We believe there is further need for licensed Spanish-speaking agents to support the many new products and services for this population. We are so excited about being able to provide this resource. We have been told that we are the first to make this solution available for carriers.”

Bill Krochalis, President and CEO of ZC Sterling is also very excited about the new venture. “This is an ideal opportunity for us to serve the Hispanic community and provide new products to this important market segment.”

CiDirect’s multi-channel customer communication platform supports inbound and outbound phone calls, faxes, emails and text chats. All calls support a “voice signature” option allowing borrowers to complete transactions without paperwork delays and agents to complete sales instantaneously.

CiDirect plans to eventually employ up to 150 people at their new facility. They will select individuals from the area workforce and provide a comprehensive, 9 week, insurance agent training program. At the conclusion of training, each individual will become a licensed insurance professional prepared to represent and sell life, health and property/casualty products.

CiDirect currently has two customer contact facilities in Iowa. The company’s corporate headquarters in Harlan houses 105 of their 172 employees. A second office in Avoca houses 67 employees. They employ 88 agents licensed in all 50 states.

Tentative plans are for the new facility to be operational in the 4th quarter of 2004 with hiring to begin later this month.

CiDirect is a past recipient of the Governor's Achievement Award from the State of Iowa Department of Economic Development and is an active member of the Professional Insurance Marketing Association.

CiDirect is headquartered at:

2513 Southwest Avenue, Harlan, IA 51537;
Phone: 712-755-9500
Web Site: www.cidirect.com

ZC Sterling is a member of the Zurich Financial Services Group and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.