Sandy Spring Insurance Corporation, a company of Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc., (Nasdaq: SASR), announced today that it has acquired The Advantage Group, Inc., located at 205 East Main St., Westminster, MD. Sandy Spring Insurance is a full-service, independent agency that offers all lines of personal, business and life insurance to clients across Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. 

With a more than 25-year history of serving clients throughout Maryland, The Advantage Group offers comprehensive auto, home, health, business and life insurance protection. The agency brings particular strength and expertise in the area of contractor insurance, as well as a broader reach into Western Maryland. 

“The Advantage Group shares Sandy Spring’s passion and commitment for delivering personalized and attentive client service,” said Todd G. Ellis, President of Sandy Spring Insurance. “With access to the top insurance carriers in the country and an average of more than 20 years of experience among all of our advisors, we are well positioned to deliver the best combination of price and coverage, and an exceptional experience for our clients. I look forward to expanding our business through this strategic partnership.” 

There will be no changes to the insurance policies of The Advantage Group clients, and their insurance agents will remain the same. The Advantage Group office in Westminster will also operate as usual. The Advantage Group will continue to operate under their current name, but it will ultimately rebrand to Sandy Spring Insurance. The agency was founded in 1990 by Bruce Talbot and Fred Hilderbrand. 

“Our clients will continue to receive the same great service they have come to expect from us, but I am confident they will find value in this new partnership,” said Fred Hilderbrand, Co-Principal of The Advantage Group, Inc. “As co-founders of The Advantage Group, Bruce and I are proud of our agency’s new association with Sandy Spring Insurance and pleased that our clients will now also have access to the full range of Sandy Spring Bank’s products and services to help meet all of their financial needs.” 

For more information about the transition, clients should call 800-826-2663. 

About Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. 

Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc., headquartered in Olney, Maryland, is the holding company for Sandy Spring Bank. Independent and community-oriented, Sandy Spring Bank offers a broad range of commercial banking, retail banking, mortgage and trust services throughout central Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the greater Washington, D.C. market. Through its subsidiaries, Sandy Spring Insurance Corporation and West Financial Services, Inc., Sandy Spring Bank also offers a comprehensive menu of insurance and wealth management services. With $4.7 billion in assets, the bank operates 45 community offices and six financial centers across the region. Visit www.sandyspringbank.com for more information.