AM Best Affirms CSI Insurer's A+ Rating
AM Best has affirmed the financial strength and credit ratings of Central States Indemnity Co. of Omaha and its subsidiary, with a stable outlook.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Corporate Finance
AM Best affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) of Central States Indemnity Co. of Omaha and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "aa-" (Superior) of it and its subsidiary, CSI Life Insurance Company. The outlook for both ratings is stable.
Why it matters
The ratings reflect CSI's balance sheet strength, adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. Both companies are domiciled in Omaha, Nebraska, making the affirmation significant for the local insurance sector.
AM Best's rating is based on a Financial Strength Rating of A+ and a Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of aa-, both classified as Superior. The extraction does not indicate any prior-period comparison or rating change.
The players
AM Best
A.M. Best is a credit rating agency that specializes in the insurance industry and publishes financial strength and credit ratings for insurers worldwide.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Berkshire Hathaway is a conglomerate holding company led by Warren Buffett, and it is the ultimate parent of CSI, providing implicit support and an enterprise risk management structure.
The details
CSI maintains risk-adjusted capitalization at the strongest level as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio, and benefits from conservative underwriting leverage, above-average liquidity and implicit support from parent Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Its investment portfolio includes a relatively elevated level of common stock leverage, and it writes more non-credit insurance premiums on a gross basis than credit insurance, mostly through long-term fronting agreements.
Timeline
November 6, 2026: AM Best published the affirmed credit ratings.
Over the last 10 years: Investment income accounted for the bulk of CSI's total earnings.
Market Landscape
CSI's rating rests in part on its ultimate parent, Berkshire Hathaway, whose enterprise risk management structure provides monitoring resources to its subsidiaries. CSI's business centers on credit card credit insurance and long-term fronting agreements with multiple insurers, which shape its position within the specialty insurance market.
For investors holding CSI-linked insurers' securities, the stable outlook suggests no near-term expected change in the companies' credit standing. Policyholders of CSI's credit insurance products are likewise affected only indirectly, as the affirmed ratings reflect the companies' financial stability.
The takeaway
A stable A+ rating signals that CSI's capital position and risk management are rated as strong, which is a useful indicator for anyone evaluating the financial health of specialty insurers.
Further reading
Explore more on Corporate Finance to see how insurers' ratings and balance sheets affect the broader market.
