CINCINNATI -- DALBAR has ranked WSLife.com fourth in the country among Web-based technology firms within the insurance, annuity and mutual funds industry. For the first time ever, WSLife.com has achieved DALBAR's highest designation of "Excellent." As one of the leading financial services research firms, DALBAR measures the performance of customer service programs and Web sites in the financial services industry on a quarterly basis.

According to Jim DeLuca, vice president of marketing & eBusiness for The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company (Western & Southern Life), being named as one of the elite "Top 5" ranked Web Sites by DALBAR provides validation on a variety of levels.

"We are very pleased with this latest DALBAR ranking. Our eBusiness team has been working extremely hard to enhance our Web site so that it remains one of the top consumer sites within the financial services industry," explained DeLuca.

Major improvements to WSLife.com during the fourth quarter of 2007 led to this rating. Among improvements mentioned by DALBAR are:

  -- Variable annuity product information updates
  -- Privacy policy content additions
  -- Enhanced transaction history through My Accounts
  -- New mutual funds landing page with new contact us form
  -- Expanded Spanish product information, contact us form, and FAQs
  -- Updated Women's Forum content
  -- LifeLINES Retirement Series podcasts
  -- Navigation updates to increase speed and usability
  -- Editable Quick Links for personal customization


  About The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company

The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, and its wholly owned subsidiary Western-Southern Life Assurance Company, both members of Western & Southern Financial Group, offer life insurance, interest-sensitive life insurance, fixed annuities, retirement strategies and personalized needs analysis for individuals, families and businesses in the middle-income market. They have 181 field offices nationwide, plus WSLife.com and Client Relationship Center. Both companies are licensed in 43 states and the District of Columbia.

About Western & Southern Financial Group

Western & Southern Financial Group (Western & Southern) is a Cincinnati- based diversified family of financial services companies with assets owned, managed and under our care in excess of $47 billion. A Fortune 500 company, Western & Southern has received A.M. Best's highest rating of A++ Superior for financial strength, Standard & Poor's AA+ rating (one of the 10 highest rated life insurance groups in the world) and is consistently recognized by Moody's and Fitch for financial strength and sound management. With a heritage dating to 1888, the group's affiliates include The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Western-Southern Life Assurance Company, Capital Analysts Incorporated,(1)(2) Columbus Life Insurance Company, Eagle Realty Group, LLC, Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.,(1) Fort Washington Savings Company,(3) IFS Financial Services, Inc., Integrity Life Insurance Company, The Lafayette Life Insurance Company, National Integrity Life Insurance Company, Todd Investment Advisors, Inc.,(1) Touchstone Advisors, Inc.,(1) and Touchstone Securities, Inc.(2) For more information, visit www.westernsouthern.com. Western & Southern is the title sponsor of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters and Women's Open tennis tournaments.