La Salle native Nicholas W. Duncan founded the Duncan Insurance Office in 1894, the same year he founded the La Salle State Bank and co-founder of the revitalized Marquette Cement Company. After graduating from Niagara University in 1878, Duncan returned to La Salle and joined his father’s coal interests, heading the retail sales department of the Union Coal shaft. For 10 years, he was general manager of the coal company.

In 1894, Duncan entered the insurance business, becoming the local agent for various insurance companies and writing policies particularly for fire and tornado coverage. Nicholas W. Duncan remained at the head of the insurance business until 1913 when ownership transferred to his son, Walter Duncan.

Walter Duncan remained active as manager of the business until 1933 when Emory B. Ross was named manager. After Ross’s 1974 retirement, Sever Brucki served in that position until the end of 1992. In 1993, long-time employee Dick Martuzzo was named manager and continues to hold that position.

The office moved several times until it settled in its current location in the La Salle State Bank building on the corner of First and Marquette Streets.

Rich with history, the Duncan Insurance Office has grown and adapted to the needs of its customers. It has become one of the largest and best known insurance agencies in Illinois. On January 1, 1998, the following press release was made which represents the most current events surrounding the ownership, management, and direction of the Duncan Insurance Office:

"La Salle State Bank, a subsidiary of the LSBancorp, Inc. holding company, has announced its recent acquisition of the Duncan Insurance Office of La Salle. The Duncan Insurance Office and La Salle State Bank share more than common ownership, they were both founded by Nicholas W. Duncan before the turn of the century in 1894. "The Duncan Insurance Office and La Salle State Bank were founded on trust more than 100 years ago. We are proud of our century-old tradition of service to our community. For us, reliability, integrity, courtesy and an appreciation of history are not merely old-fashioned concepts... they guide our work every day. That is our commitment to you and our community... and you can rely on us to always strive to honor it", said Daniel E. Lawler, President and C.E.O. of the La Salle State Bank and LSBancorp, Inc.

 

The Duncan Insurance Office provides a wide range of insurance services to meet the needs of both the consumer and commercial sector of our community. Services include: commercial property and casualty insurance, employee benefits, personal insurance, and claims service. "We are excited about the opportunity to better serve our customers. We offer the broadest possible personal insurance programs for home, auto, life and health. Our commercial accounts vary widely and include retail, wholesale, industrial, trucking, independent oil and gas producers, hospitals, schools, municipalities, and contractors. We have fully trained agents and claims personnel working for our clients.

 

We are always available whether it’s to answer questions or to process claims and to provide the protection and knowledge our custumers demand and deserve" - said Dick Martuzzo, General Manager for the Duncan Insurance Office.

 

"We are pleased with recent financial service regulatory developments which have opened the way for the La Salle State Bank to engage in insurance sales. These developments promise to intertwine the livelihood of the La Salle State Bank and the Duncan Insurance Office-- while providing more convenient, affordable and complete service to our customers both consumer and commercial...", said Lawler. He added, "We formed the LSBancorp, Inc. holding company 6 years ago in anticipation of growth opportunities within our industry and, in particular, within our community. The Illinois Valley is a successful and growing community with a variety of needs. We recognized that to be a leader and to meet the demands of our community’s residents, businesses and corporations, we must grow with them. Investing in technology, a well trained staff, innovative products and services, and new facilities are among a few key elements that have allowed us to grow while meeting the needs and expectations of our community. We are a leading financial service provider and insurance agency because of our commitment to these guiding principles and because of the patronage, loyalty, and friendship of the people of this community."

 

Management of the Duncan Insurance office will be provided by Dick Martuzzo as President and General Manager. Duncan Insurance employs 16 experienced and highly trained specialists and claims personnel. As LSBancorp, Inc. prepares for the new millennium, it will be guided by more than 250 years of combined experience from each of its subsidiaries: La Salle State Bank, Community Bank of Utica, and the Duncan Insurance Office."

As our organization continues to grow, we assure the people of the Illinois Valley and those living beyond our community, that we will strive to provide the very best in personal service and quality protection that have made our more than 100 year history possible. We also assure you that our web site will continue to grow offering more in the area of educational information and ever expanding convenient products and services. In the meantime, we encourage you to stop by the Duncan Insurance Office located in the La Salle State Bank Building, downtown La Salle and ask to speak with one of our many fine agents, today!