About Us

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.

Today Al Shank Jr.  is the President of Al Shank Insurance. The firm is 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, Bitco, GuideOne, Kansas Mutual, KaMMco, Marysville Mutual, Hartford,  Foremost, Travelers, American Modern Home, and State Auto. 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, Colorado, Arkansas, 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.

In 2013 Al Shank Insurance became a founding member of Bison Insurance Group, LLC with 4 other Kansas agencies. The other founding members were Fee Insurance in Hutchinson; Newkirk, Dennis and Buckles in Independence; Renn and Company in Wellington; and Tyner Insurance Group in Council Grove. Everyone of the firms in Bison Insurance Group, LLC had a past president of the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents in it's leadership. In 2015, two new members were added, Kellerman Insurance in Holton and Heritage Insurance in Stockton bringing the total to 7 agencies (still with a past president of the KAIA in every agency). In 2019 Bison welcomed Cardinal Insurance in Junction City, Sayler Insurance Service in Sabetha and Raleigh Insurance in Little River as new members to bring total member agencies to 10 with total locations to 26 around Kansas.  Bison did not change any ownership, personnel, or management at Al Shank Insurance Inc, but provides the firm with unrivaled access to markets and the strength in numbers that benefits our clients and provides more and better insurance and services options too. (See the link on our home page to visit the Bison website.)

With over 75 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.