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Company History

1909
Mutual Benefit Health & Accident Association (original corporate name of Mutual of Omaha) filed articles of incorporation with the Nebraska Insurance Department. The charter was issued on March 5, 1909. Harry S. Weller was President, serving until 1932.
1910
Dr. C.C. Criss, a medical student at Creighton College of Medicine was elected treasurer of Mutual Benefit Health & Accident Association. Under his future leadership, Mutual of Omaha began to offer simplified, liberal policies to minimize an insured's liability from accident or illness. Underwriting rules were extended to provide disability coverage to the average person, including lifetime benefit periods.
1920
Premium income exceeded $1 million for the year.
1924
At its fifteenth anniversary, Mutual ranked eighth among insurance companies in premiums received and seventh in claims paid. Many of the companies in comparison were more than 100 years old. Premium income reached over $2 million. V.J. Skutt joined the company.
1926
United Benefit Life Insurance Company was founded.
1928
Mrs. Mabel Criss was elected second vice president of Mutual Benefit. She became the first female officer of the company.
1929
Mutual surpassed the $10 million mark in premium income and Dr. C.C. Criss was elected President of United Benefit.
1933
Dr. C.C. Criss elected President of Mutual Benefit. His position as treasurer was assumed by his brother, Dr. N.L. Criss.
1941
Mutual formed its Group Insurance Department.
1949
Dr. C.C. Criss was named chairman of the board and V.J. Skutt was elected President. Skutt helped take the company from a small regional insurer to a national financial services organization. The millionth life insurance policy was issued and the company collected $76 million in premium.
1953
V.J. Skutt named Chairman of the Board and President.
1962
Mutual's name was officially changed to Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.
1963
Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom television program aired for the first time.
1964
V.J. Skutt named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
1978
Annual premium income exceeded $1 billion.
1981
United Benefit Life Insurance Company changed its name to United of Omaha.
1984
Thomas Skutt was named Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He was named Chairman and CEO in 1986. Skutt served in these positions during a time when soaring health care costs and national legislation threatened the future of private health care. Under Skutt's leadership, Mutual continued to diversify its product offerings.
1998
John W. Weekly was elected Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 1998, capping a career with the company that began with an entry-level data processing position in 1950. Under his leadership, the company merged business units, implemented ambitious customer service requirements and introduced numerous products to respond to the changing marketplace.
2001

Mutual launched an initiative to revitalize the Mutual of Omaha brand. The branding initiative includes an extensive advertising campaign and corporate sponsorship of USA Swimming.

2002

Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom roared back to television on the Animal Planet network with a series of new specials.

2004

Mutual of Omaha began sponsorship of Drive, Chip and Putt, the world’s largest junior golf program, organizing golf competitions for kids ages 7-14 in 100+ cities across the country.

2005
In January 2005, Daniel P. Neary was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company. Neary had served as president since August 2003. Neary is only the fifth chairman of the 95-year-old company.
2006

Omaha Information Services Company was created, offering a wide range of operational risk management services and consulting.
Mutual sponsors Visions of Victory sports photography exhibit, which will visit museums across the country through 2008.
Mutual of Omaha unveiled a $250 million mixed-use urban development project called Midtown Crossing at Turner Park. It's the first major initiative tied to the Destination Midtown project.

2007
Omaha Financial Holdings, Inc. (OFHI), Mutual of Omaha’s holding company for banking operations, was created to explore banking initiatives. OFHI acquired three community banks: Nebraska State Bank in Omaha, Neb.; Security Federal Bank in Lincoln, Neb.; and Peak National Bank in Golden, Colo. In November, OFHI opened Mutual of Omaha Bank with 13 locations in Nebraska and Colorado and more than $700 million in assets.
Today

Today, the company maintains a strong policyholder surplus finishing 2006 at $2.14 billion. This surplus represents additional funds available to meet current and future obligations to policyholders and is a key indicator of financial stability. Total GAAP revenues were $4.2 billion in 2006, and Mutual of Omaha had consolidated assets of more than $19 billion at year end.