About Us History

The Phoenix Group, founded as Holmes Insurance in 1958 by Sam Holmes, has evolved into a multi-faceted insurance agency serving more than 1,200 businesses and 10,000 families. A subsidiary of Hometown Bancorp Ltd., The Phoenix Group operates offices in Ripon, Fond du Lac, and Wautoma, WI, and Peru, IL. It boasts $38 million in premiums and premium equivalents annually.

Acquired in 2001 by Hometown Bancorp Ltd., The Phoenix Group offers a full line of property, casualty, life, disability, and health insurance. Through its connection with Hometown Bancorp, the agency brings added services to its customers in the form of retail and commercial banking, financial planning, financing, equipment leasing, and investment products. Shortly after its acquisition in 2001, The Phoenix Group significantly grew its geographical reach and premium base through several company acquisitions, including the Sondalle Agency, which served Princeton, Neshkoro, and Montello, WI; the Eagan Agency, which served Wautoma, WI; and the McClone Agency in Shawano and Oconto Falls, WI.In 2004, The Phoenix Group merged with Jackson Kahl Insurance of Fond du Lac, WI.The Phoenix Group'smost recent acquisitionextended the agency's footprint into Illinois. The former Union Bank Insurance Group, located in Peru, IL, became the Phoenix Group of Illinois, Inc. in the fall of 2006.

The Phoenix Group is among several subsidiaries of Hometown Bancorp, including Hometown Property Holdings Inc., formed in 1999 for capital allocation purposes; Hometown Mortgage and Finance Inc., formed in 1999 to provide financing to customers seeking to purchase or refinance their homes; Hometown Investment Services Inc., formed in 2000 to provide financial planning and investment products to individuals and businesses; and Hometown Leasing Inc., formed in 2000, to generate ongoing fee income by providing a variety of equipment lease packages to businesses through utilization of outside vendors and their capital.