DUAL North America Inc., a specialty program administrator offering a broad range of insurance products, has announced a partnership with artificial intelligence-driven risk analytics provider ZestyAI to strengthen its storm-risk underwriting and pricing capabilities.

The partnership aligns with DUAL’s ongoing expansion across the U.S. market and its commitment to improving accuracy in underwriting amid a rise in severe weather events. Through the adoption of ZestyAI’s Z-STORM™ model, DUAL aims to refine risk differentiation, support sustainable growth, and maintain compliance with regulatory standards.

AI-Powered Storm Modeling

ZestyAI’s Z-STORM™ model combines artificial intelligence and property-level data to assess the effects of hail and wind. By analyzing roof condition, material type, surrounding exposure, and local climatology, the model produces detailed insights into property vulnerability. These insights enable insurers to better predict storm frequency and severity, improving both underwriting speed and pricing precision.

In September 2025, ZestyAI expanded its storm-risk suite to include mitigation-aware scoring. This feature adjusts risk scores dynamically based on verified property improvements, such as roof replacements and material upgrades. The update is designed to promote transparency and integrate mitigation incentives directly into pricing workflows.

Regulatory and Regional Reach

ZestyAI’s storm models have undergone regulatory review and are currently in use across the Great Plains, Midwest, and southern United States — regions that face the highest exposure to severe convective storms. Multiple carriers have adopted these models for use in rating and underwriting operations.

Industry Perspectives

DUAL chief actuary Luke Wolmer said accurate property-level risk prediction is essential as the company expands across property lines. “Z-STORM gives us a more nuanced understanding of storm vulnerability, helping us recognize differences in risk that traditional models overlook. This enhances our team’s confidence in pricing decisions and will support our continued expansion across the U.S.,” Wolmer said.

ZestyAI founder and CEO Attila Toth noted that DUAL’s adoption of the model reflects a proactive approach to storm-risk management. “By applying property-level risk analytics and mitigation-aware scoring, DUAL is positioned to underwrite more precisely, grow responsibly, and strengthen community resilience across the regions that are most exposed to extreme weather,” Toth said.

DUAL Personal Lines has announced a new partnership with Homebound Insurance Exchange to strengthen its capacity offerings and broaden its geographic presence. This collaboration comes as the personal lines market continues to evolve, with carriers reassessing their market positions amid shifting conditions.

Expanding Coverage for Manufactured Homes and More

The partnership is set to enhance coverage availability for manufactured homes, dwelling fire, and homeowners insurance. Initially, the expansion will focus on Texas, with plans to roll out additional offerings across multiple states in the near future. While specific coverage details are still forthcoming, the collaboration aims to provide tailored solutions to meet the evolving needs of policyholders.

A Focus on Long-Term Stability

As part of the agreement, the partnership will introduce a member surplus contributions model, designed to bolster financial stability and ensure long-term security for policyholders. The move is particularly timely, as several insurance carriers have either scaled back their offerings or exited certain markets, leaving gaps in coverage availability.

According to Andy Swindall, chief personal lines officer at DUAL Personal Lines, the partnership reflects DUAL’s commitment to offering customized insurance solutions that align with client needs. “This collaboration enables us to expand our footprint while maintaining a strong focus on delivering stability and innovation in the personal lines sector,” Swindall said.

Personal Lines Growth Amid Market Challenges

Despite industry adjustments, the US personal lines sector has shown notable resilience and growth. In 2024, the property and casualty insurance industry saw direct premiums written increase by approximately 8.0%, with personal lines—particularly homeowners and auto insurance — leading the expansion.

DUAL North America also reported significant growth, surpassing $1.3 billion in gross written premium in 2024 across more than 40 insurance products. The broader personal lines market contributed to a $3.8 billion underwriting profit for the P&C industry in the first half of the year, marking a strong recovery from prior losses.

This rebound has been fueled by multiple rate adjustments, which have outpaced rising claims costs, leading to an improved combined ratio of 94.2% in Q1 2024. These factors indicate a stabilizing market, even as insurers refine their approaches to risk and underwriting.

As DUAL Personal Lines and Homebound Insurance Exchange move forward with this partnership, the focus remains on expanding market reach, improving financial security for policyholders, and addressing coverage gaps left by other carriers. The collaboration positions DUAL North America as a leader in adapting to market shifts while continuing to deliver high-quality personal lines insurance solutions.