First Niagara Risk becomes Key Insurance & Benefits

First Niagara Risk Management, the large insurance agency operating in New York, Connecticut and Northeastern Pennsylvania, is now known as Key Insurance & Benefits (KIB) following its acquisition by Cleveland-based KeyBank in July.

“We’re excited to take the final step toward joining KeyBank as part of Key’s acquisition of First Niagara Financial Group,” said Kirk Jensen, KIB managing director and senior executive. The acquisition was completed July 29, 2016, creating the 13th largest US-based bank.

“While we’ve changed our name, our dedication to our clients remains the same,” said Jensen. “We’re still evaluating all the ways we can tap KeyBank’s resources to do even more for our clients. We anticipate being able to provide similar exceptional client service to KeyBank clients.”

KeyBank traces its roots to Albany, N.Y., and continues to have strong recognition in Western New York.

KIB offers products and services to commercial and personal clients, which includes health and benefits, home and auto insurance.

The new KIB has 350 employees in seven offices.

“Kirk’s [Jensen] team is respected industry-wide for their client service, particularly their innovative work helping commercial clients identify, manage and mitigate risk,” said Terry Jenkins, who oversees KIB as Key Private Bank president. “I’m very impressed with this team’s depth and breadth of experience. I am confident our clients will reap immediate benefits as KeyBank and KIB work together to provide solutions that make the most of clients’ heir business and personal opportunities.”