1955 – 1969: A Time of Vision

1955

American Family Life Insurance Company of Columbus was founded on Nov. 17, when principal founder John Amos and his brothers Paul and Bill Amos started in a small six-room complex in downtown Columbus, Georgia. The company began with just 16 employees and 60 agents. After its first year of operation, American Family Life Insurance Company had over 6,400 policyholders and $388,000 in assets.

1958

American Family Life pioneered the introduction of a cancer policy after identifying the need to lift the financial burden of cancer patients and their families.

1964

American Family Life began “cluster selling,” which involved selling our cancer products at the work site in addition to selling directly to individuals.

The company became American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus – a name change that would later set Aflac up for one of the most groundbreaking advertising campaigns in history.

The 1970s: A Decade of Expansion

1970

American Family Life expands from a small regional company into a rapidly growing national insurer licensed in 37 states.

1974

Oct. 1 – American Family Life went international and began selling insurance in Japan, becoming just the third U.S. company to do so. Within the first year, the company had written $25 million in premiums.

June 14 – That same year, American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), with AFL opening at $7.25 per share.

1975

To accommodate the incredible growth, American Family Life employees excitedly moved into the $7.1 million, fully paid-for, 19-story headquarters office building.

The 1980s: A Decade of Momentum

The 1980s continued our momentum as we developed our strategy of broadening our product line and expanding our distribution system.

1982

The company reached another milestone by increasing its total assets to over $1 billion.

1984

Aflac U.S. introduced an accident policy and a first-occurrence benefit to the cancer policy. Aflac Japan also introduced another innovative product – the world’s first dementia care policy.

1989

American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus adopted the acronym “Aflac.”

The 1990s: A Decade of Innovation

The early ‘90s marked the launch of Aflac’s first national advertising campaign designed to increase the company's name recognition and laid the foundation for a decade of strong growth. Accident/disability insurance became the No. 1 selling product for Aflac U.S.

1990

Daniel P. Amos became CEO of Aflac Incorporated and Paul S. Amos became chairman.

1995

Aflac began to focus its national philanthropic efforts on the treatment and cure of childhood cancer and pledged $3 million to establish the Aflac Cancer Center at what was then Egleston Children’s Hospital, now known as Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

1996

Aflac U.S. introduced SmartApp®, which revolutionized the policy application process by allowing agents to electronically issue business more quickly and conveniently than ever before. In 1999, SmartApp® received the Computerworld Smithsonian Award for Excellence in Technology.

1999

Aflac Japan joined the Children's Cancer Association of Japan to build the first Aflac Parents House.