
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 12, 1994                   TAG: 9405120201
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Newsday
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

INSURANCE BIAS CHARGED

A nonprofit housing group Wednesday accused two of the nation's largest property insurers of discriminating against applicants for homeowners coverage on the basis of race, income or neighborhood - a practice known as redlining.

Allstate Insurance and Nationwide Mutual Insurance, respectively the country's second- and fifth-largest issuers of homeowners insurance, denied the charge by the National Fair Housing Alliance, which represents about 60 groups aimed at ending segregated housing patterns. The group said it targeted the two companies because of the high number of complaints it had received against them.

Nationwide said it does not even do business in Wisconsin, one of the states in which it was accused of discrimination. The company ``provided property insurance to all applicants regardless of race and ethnic origin, and anyone who says differently is wrong,'' said Lou Fabro, a Nationwide spokesman.

Rhonda Woodard, a spokeswoman for Allstate, which has its headquarters in Northbrook, Ill., said she was ``incredulous'' to hear the charge.

by CNB