Al and Maxine Shank started Al Shank Insurance, Inc. in 1941 out of their home in Liberal. At that time Mr. Shank sold life insurance for the New York Life Insurance Co. During his tenure with New York Life, Mr. Shank was named New York Life’s National Man of the Year and was always at the top of their sales force. In 1942, Al Shank Insurance contracted with The Traveler’s Insurance Co. to sell all lines of insurance and became a true full service agency.

In the early 1970’s the agency contracted with Railroad Savings and Loan, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas and since that time has offered home loans, savings accounts, auto loans, and IRAs to the public. This move made Al Shank Insurance a full financial services business for our clients. Through a series of acquisitions Railroad Savings and Loan is now Bank of the West.

Today Donna and Al Shank Jr. are the officers of the agency. Al Shank Insurance, as a member of the Independent Agents and Brokers of America and the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents, represents major company groups including Allstate, Encompass, Employers Mutual, Zurich, Farmers Alliance, Progressive, Mid Continent Casualty, Bituminous, GuideOne, Kansas Mutual, KaMMco, Continental Western, Hartford, AIG, Foremost, Travelers and American Modern Home. In addition, ASI is a stockholder in Associated Risk Managers of Kansas, allowing us to get access to an even wider array of markets and products to provide coverage for almost anything.  Al Shank Jr. served as president of the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents for the 1993-1994 year, and functions as the agency manager.

In 2006, ASI acquired Zimmerman and Co Insurance Agency in Liberal. Zimmerman and Co was Al Shank Insurance’s oldest and largest competitor with a sterling reputation. This acquisition made Al Shank Insurance one of the largest agencies in western Kansas.  Agents in the office maintain licenses in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, Colorado, and Missouri to serve various clients in those states. We can handle virtually any insurance need that an individual or business might encounter. We have a written life insurance on an elephant and bonded actor Marlon Brando. Although these examples are two extreme ones, they do point out the agency’s capacity to handle the unusual insurance needs.

With over 65 years of service to the Liberal area we enjoy an excellent business reputation and strive everyday to continue Al Shank Insurance’s proud tradition of excellence.