Donegal widens ZestyAI agreement to bring AI property analytics into underwriting

Donegal Insurance Group, a Pennsylvania insurer that sells through independent agents in 21 US states, is rolling out ZestyAI's Z-PROPERTY product under a wider agreement with the analytics company, FinTech Global reported on 21 October. Underwriters are to use it on individual policies, and portfolio managers for a broader view of the risks the insurer holds. The indicators named are roof age, roof condition, roof complexity and debris on the property.

The report leaves the scope open. It does not say which states the rollout covers, when it will be complete, whether the scores will feed into rating, or what results Donegal expects. No Donegal or ZestyAI press release on the new agreement was found.

The deal extends earlier work. ZestyAI announced in October 2024 that Donegal was applying its Roof Age model to its existing personal lines book, mainly to fill gaps in roof age data on homeowners renewals. FinTech Global dates the relationship to 2025, which conflicts with ZestyAI's release.

Jeffery Hay, Donegal's chief underwriting officer, said the first project strengthened the roof age data available to the insurer's teams, and that the wider agreement gives Donegal "a more complete understanding of the properties we insure" and more confidence in how it evaluates, manages and reinsures risk.