The history

For 200 years, we have safeguarded life, health and assets for our customers. It started with the mutual fire insurers. Forty years later, Ole Jacob Broch founded the life insurance company Gjensidige. Broch was a passionate enthusiast, and he shaped the company together with – and for – the customers. This has left its mark on the organisation and our culture. The commitment to the individual customer has contributed to good customer experiences and sound performance for two centuries. This is our history. The power to make changes through different phases of Norwegian society and business and industry forms the basis for our present and future competitiveness.

2016 - Time passes, Gjensidige endures

In 2016 we celebrated an extraordinary history. Gjensidige was created by and for its customers, and for more than 200 years we have secured life, health and assets. We are well prepared for the next 200. 

 

2012 - New brand platform

A new brand platform was developed in 2012 to help to position Gjensidige as the most customer-oriented company in the Nordic insurance industry.

 

2010 - Oslo Stock Exchange

Gjensidige Forsikring ASA was listed on Oslo Stock Exchangeon 10 December 2010.

 

2008 - Customer dividend

As the only big insurance company in Norway, we share our profit with our customers. Customer dividend is passed on through the Gjensidige Foundation and was first paid in 2008. 

 

2007 - The Gjensidige Foundation

  The Gjensidige Foundation was established in 2007, and it is now the main shareholder in Gjensidige Forsikring ASA.

2006-2007 - Aquisition in Nordic and the Baltics

We set up business in Denmark, Sweden and the Baltics, and expanded our services to include a wider range of insurance, banking and financial products.

 

2005 - Collaboration agreement with DNB

We entered into a collaboration agreement with the bank DNB and become its third biggest shareholder. The agreement was terminated in 2005 and the shares were sold.

 

1993 - Acquisition of Forenede Forsikring

This acquisition meant a substantial expansion of our activities.

 

1974 - Gjensidige becomes the name of the company

Samtrygd merged with the motor insurance company Norsk Bilforsikring Gjensidige (NBG). The same year, a collaboration with the life insurance company Gjensidige Liv was entered into. Gjensidige became the joint brand name.

 

1932 - A symbol of security

We started using the Watchman as our logo along with the slogan 'Time passes – Gjensidige endures'. The Watchman is one of the most recognised logos in Norway, and it is associated with security in the Nordic countries and the Baltics as well. The Watchman has gone through several changes over the years.

 

1922 The establishment of Samtrygd

In order to safeguard customers' assets and the mutual fire insurers' finances, the insurance company Samtrygd (mutual insurance association) was founded as a reinsurance company for the mutual fire insurers.

 

At the beginning of the 19th century, securing assets became more important, and people and organisations recognised the need to stand together in case something should happen. Before 1920, as many as 260 mutual fire insurers had been established all over the country. Most of them are part of Gjensidige Forsikring today.