2009-10-27 16:52:03 -

CNA Financial Corporation (NYSE: CNA) announced the official opening of its newest branch office: Chicago. Located in downtown’s “South Loop,” the new Chicago branch continues CNA’s “winning company” strategy announced earlier this year by extending the global business insurer’s geographic footprint and enabling closer proximity to its agents, brokers and customers.

“In this challenging economic environment, we are fortunate to be among the few businesses that are opening new doors and expanding employment opportunities within our industry,” said Tom Motamed, chairman and chief executive officer, CNA. “Our new Chicago branch will allow us to better connect with our agents and brokers to, ultimately, better serve our customers.

“The new branch also enables CNA to penetrate Chicago’s robust market and diverse industries, particularly

in our key areas of expertise such as Technology, Education, Real Estate, Manufacturing & Distribution, and Business/Professional Services,” Motamed continued.

In addition, CNA will add resources and point-of-sale authority in this location and its nearby Lombard office. Steve Wachtel, senior vice president, Northern Zone, will lead the Chicago office.

CNA’s Chicago branch is located at 333 S. Wabash, Chicago, IL, 60604, also the site of its Home Office headquarters. Over the next 12 months, additional new branch offices are scheduled to open in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Baltimore and upstate New York. For additional details or more information, please visit www.cna.com : .

Serving businesses and professionals since 1897, CNA is the country’s seventh largest commercial insurance writer and the 13 th largest property and casualty company. CNA’s insurance products include standard commercial lines, specialty lines, surety, marine and other property and casualty coverages. CNA's services include risk management, information services, underwriting, risk control and claims administration. For more information, please visit CNA at www.cna.com : .

CNA is a registered trade mark of CNA Financial Corporation.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT

This press release may include statements which relate to anticipated future events (forward-looking statements) rather than actual present conditions or historical events. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and generally include words such as “believes”, “expects”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, and similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to a variety of inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results projected. Many of these risks and uncertainties cannot be controlled by CNA. For a detailed description of these risks and uncertainties please refer to CNA’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at www.cna.com : .

Any forward-looking statements made in this press release are made by CNA as of the date of this press release. Further, CNA does not have any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained in this press release, even if CNA’s expectations or any related events, conditions or circumstances change.



CNA Financial CorporationKatrina Parker, 312/822-5167