Royal Neighbors of America life insurance

Overview

Royal Neighbors of America is a fraternal benefit society based in Rock Island, Illinois, founded by women in 1895 and still led by them: its president and chief executive is Zarifa Reynolds, and every director listed on its website is a woman. It sells life insurance and annuities, which it calls certificates, to members, and it uses part of its income for grants, scholarships and volunteer programs aimed at women and local communities. Its slogan is "Insuring Lives, Supporting Women, and Serving Communities."

Royal Neighbors files with the NAIC as a single society (NAIC code 57657). It ranked #90 among U.S. life insurance groups by 2024 individual life direct premiums written, according to NAIC market share data, with about $159.4 million in premiums and a 0.10% market share. Its 2025 annual report shows more than 280,000 members, $1.33 billion of admitted assets, $173.6 million of premium income net of reinsurance, and $159.9 million of certificateholders' surplus at year-end 2025.

As a fraternal, Royal Neighbors has no stockholders and is run for its members, who have voting privileges under its bylaws. It is licensed in every state and Washington, D.C., except Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York. Today it is best known for small whole life and final expense policies sold by independent agents, and for single premium whole life sold to older buyers who want to leave money to family or charity.

History

Royal Neighbors was founded by nine women and chartered on March 21, 1895, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Because the men's fraternal benefit societies of the time would not insure women, the group set up a life insurance society of its own. The founders took the name from Proverbs 27:10, "better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off."

The society's first home office was in Peoria, Illinois; it moved to Rock Island in 1908, and its present headquarters building there was finished in 1928. Royal Neighbors says it was among the first insurers to reflect women's longer life expectancy in lower premiums (see why women pay less for life insurance) and began insuring children in 1918. Its members backed women's suffrage, and the society has published its magazine, The Royal Neighbor, since 1900. Men have long been welcome as members.

AM Best upgraded the society to A (Excellent) in 2020. Royal Neighbors celebrated its 130th anniversary in May 2025, describing itself as the second-fastest-growing U.S. fraternal life insurer. Zarifa Reynolds, a former Guardian Life and TIAA executive, joined as president and CEO in 2023. The society's charitable arm, formerly the Royal Neighbors Foundation, is now the lift Women's Foundation.

Life insurance products

Royal Neighbors sells mostly permanent coverage, with one term product:

• Ensured Legacy Final Expense: whole life coverage of $5,000 to $40,000, issued as simplified issue, as a graded benefit plan or as guaranteed issue, depending on the applicant's health. Optional riders include a Charitable Giving Rider, a Grandchild Term Insurance Rider giving each grandchild $5,000 of coverage, an Accidental Death Benefit Rider, and a no-cost Accelerated Death Benefit Rider for terminal illness or permanent nursing home confinement on policies of $7,000 or more (not available on guaranteed issue). See final expense insurance: what it covers and costs.
• Jet Single Premium Whole Life: one lump-sum payment of at least $5,000 for ages 40 to 85, applied for through an electronic application without a medical exam. It includes no-cost critical, chronic and terminal illness accelerated benefit riders, a one-time partial surrender option after the second year, loans, and a Charitable Giving Rider. Single premium policies are often modified endowment contracts, which changes how loans and withdrawals are taxed.
• Jet Whole Life: level premiums, guaranteed cash value and fast application decisions, with optional riders at extra cost.
• Jet Youth Whole Life: coverage for children with premiums payable for 20 years or until the child reaches 21 (see life insurance for grandchildren).
• Jet Term Life: level premiums for the term you choose, with a decision in minutes for many applicants, and the option to continue coverage to age 95 at increasing annual renewable rates after the level period. Royal Neighbors does not list term lengths on its website.

The Charitable Giving Rider pays the lesser of 1% of the face amount or $1,000 to a chosen charity at the insured's death at no added premium. Royal Neighbors does not publish rates online.

Other products

Royal Neighbors sells a multi-year guaranteed annuity with guarantee periods of 3, 5 or 10 years (see Multi-year guaranteed annuities (MYGAs): how they work) and a Member Emergency Access Rider that allows one penalty-free withdrawal of up to 50% after a qualifying emergency. It also offers a Single premium immediate annuities (SPIAs): how they work from a $5,000 minimum and a flexible premium deferred annuity. Its contact form also lists Medicare supplement insurance among its topics.

Insured members and annuity owners become beneficial members at no extra fee. Membership benefits include prescription and health-screening discounts, scholarships, volunteer grants of up to $200, community chapters, premium assistance for members facing illness or disaster, and the Empathy bereavement program for beneficiaries.

Buying and service

Royal Neighbors sells through independent agents, agencies and independent marketing organizations it appoints rather than through a captive sales force or online. Many of its products use the "Jet" electronic application, which gives many applicants a decision in minutes. An agent who sells several companies' products can compare it with others (see captive vs independent life insurance agents).

Members manage their certificates through an online member portal. The customer service center is at 800-627-4762 or 309-788-4561, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time.

Claims

Beneficiaries can report a death through a secure online form on Royal Neighbors' beneficiary resources page or by calling 800-627-4762; the society then sends a claim packet. Benefits can be paid by single check or by direct deposit using a form included in the packet, and beneficiaries can choose settlement options instead of a lump sum. All beneficiaries and up to four family members get access to the Empathy bereavement support program. The life insurance claim checklist explains the documents insurers usually require.

Ratings and reputation

AM Best affirmed Royal Neighbors' A (Excellent) financial strength rating on December 12, 2025, according to the society's 2025 annual report; the rating had been upgraded to A in 2020 and affirmed again in December 2024. Royal Neighbors does not publish ratings from S&P, Moody's or Fitch, and it was not among the brands ranked in the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Individual Life Insurance Study.

The 2025 financial statements show net income of $0.9 million in 2025, down from $1.8 million in 2024, while certificateholders' surplus fell from $167.7 million to $159.9 million as the society grew. The society reported $52.8 million of "social good" impact and 651,233 volunteer hours in 2025, and Forbes named it one of America's Best Insurance Companies for 2025.

Who it suits

Royal Neighbors suits buyers who want small to mid-size permanent coverage, especially final expense or single premium whole life, and who value a nonprofit fraternal with community programs and charitable riders. Young families who need large amounts of term coverage, residents of the seven excluded states including New York, and anyone who wants to buy online without an agent will be better served elsewhere.

• Strengths: AM Best A (Excellent) affirmed December 2025; final expense options from simplified to guaranteed issue up to $40,000; no-cost accelerated benefit and charitable giving riders; member benefits including scholarships, bereavement support and premium assistance.
• Weaknesses: not licensed in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire or New York; thin earnings in 2025 and a decline in surplus; no published rates or term lengths; sold only through appointed agents.

How to contact Royal Neighbors of America