Strengthened by the Storms
of Time

The History of Nationale Suisse

From a cargo insurer to the provider of comprehensive and specialized insurance solutions: Nationale Suisse has been playing a major role in the Swiss economy since 1883. The company has also, more than once, survived periods of volatility in its long history, but emerged strengthened from them each and every time.

The beginning of Nationale Suisse was the end of the once glorious «Swiss Lloyd Transport Insurance Company», which had had to be liquidated due to a recession and mismanagement. Responsible business representatives founded a successor company the «New Swiss Lloyd» on 15th May 1883 in the stock exchange in the Winterthur Casino and thus laid the foundations for the modern enterprise – the Nationale Suisse. The «New Swiss Lloyd» was a cargo insurer which expanded rapidly. Its network of agencies stretched as far as Karachi and Colombo.

In Basel since 1898

Under its new name, the «Swiss National Insurance Company» which was chosen by the General Assembly, the company expanded from 1898 onwards, from its new headquarters in Basel (since 1942 at the Steinengraben 41), to become an insurer in many fields. A volatile era followed which was strongly influenced by the two world wars.

Major European Player

From 1963 onwards, the work of setting up in various European countries was intensified. Getting started in the important life insurance branch of the business followed in 1987. As a result of the strategic reorientation launched in 2005, which places the emphasis on differentiation and niches, the company is now known, since 2006, under the modern brand name Nationale Suisse.

In 2008 Nationale Suisse proudly celebrated its 125th anniversary.