C.T. Lowndes & Company has insured the Lowcountry for 170 years

Longtime insurance firm has helped residents and businesses recover from floods, hurricanes, pandemics, fires and earthquakes

In 1850, Charles T. Lowndes founded C.T. Lowndes & Company. For over 170 years, the local, family owned and operated independent insurance agency has been witness to a long parade of natural and unnatural disasters, among those being the major hurricane of 1854, the great Charleston fire in 1861, the 1886 earthquake, two World Wars, Hurricane Hugo, and economic depressions and recessions. Throughout it all, C.T. Lowndes & Company has protected Lowcountry individuals and businesses and has developed a reputation of advocacy and being there for their clients when they need them the most.

As C.T. Lowndes & Company celebrates its history, it has continued to grow as a successful business, now with eight offices across the Lowcountry, extending from Edisto Island to Myrtle Beach.

Contact Info: Eight S.C. coastal locations to serve you 800-551-3817 ctlowndes.com

Led by CEO Bill Silcox, the highly-trained team of 100 — many with decades of service at the firm — is committed to building strong relationships with clients and remaining focused on clients’ needs. Company owners include the first and second generations of the Silcox family and both the fifth and sixth generations of Lowndes family.

In addition to the agency writing many forms of personal lines insurance, including home, auto, and life, it also has a thriving commercial book of business that includes business liability, workers compensation, group and individual health, and employee benefits. As an independent agency, C.T. Lowndes is able to tailor insurance policies to their clients’ specific requirements by connecting the best and most cost-effective products from among the more than four dozen carriers they represent and with whom they maintain relationships.

C.T. Lowndes works with well-known companies like Travelers, Progressive, PURE, Sagesure, Frontline, Auto-Owners and Safeco/Liberty Mutual. It is not beholden to one company, but to its many clients across the state.

These relationships built over generations with insurance providers allow C.T. Lowndes to more effectively advocate for their clients. Having the ability to call their insurance company partners directly provides the agency owners with a tremendous resource to help address specific clients’ needs. Conversely, national companies seek out C.T. Lowndes principals, whom they have known for decades, requesting insight into how customers will respond to policy changes.

Much of the agency’s success can be attributed to its long-standing relationships with the local community and its clients. The team at C.T. Lowndes recognizes the value in providing personalized service, especially in a digital age where oftentimes compassion and quality service can be missing.

Why does that matter? Consider the agency’s quick action in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, which ripped through the South Carolina coast and laid waste to some of Edisto Island. Even before residents could return to their homes, C.T. Lowndes staff arrived on the island and took inventory door-to-door, reporting to policyholders the level of damage, directing them to file claims and connecting them to construction and restoration companies to help expedite repairs.

“Word got out quick and we started getting inundated with phone calls,” recalls Silcox. “People were quite appreciative.”

No wonder readers of the Post and Courier have voted C.T. Lowndes & Company best insurance agency the last two years, and readers of the Moultrie News added their approval last year. “We’re not flashy or seeking the spotlight. That’s just what happens when you are passionate about taking care of your customers,” Silcox said.

C.T. Lowndes takes care of its community as well. For five years, the agency was a title sponsor for the Sertoma High School Football Classic, whose proceeds were distributed to local children’s charities. Dedicated to giving back, it continues to support local charities whose missions resonate with its staff.

Looking forward, the agency aims to continue to identify progressive solutions to enhance the options available to meet their clients’ needs. C.T. Lowndes understands the importance of adapting to the current environment where businesses are faced with complex challenges such as cyber-security by recommending and offering cyber-liability coverage. This has become even more important as more and more individuals are working remotely.

C.T. Lowndes & Company operates locations in Charleston, Edisto Island, Goose Creek, Moncks Corner, Mount Pleasant, Myrtle Beach, Summerville and Walterboro. They are close by to serve your insurance needs with a locally owned and operated insurance agency that has a long-standing commitment to provide quality and personalized service, to give back to the community, and to meet the ever-evolving needs of its clients.