Ascend, the leading provider of financial operations automation software to the insurance industry, is excited to announce an expanded partnership with Annex, an MGA specializing in high-risk homeowners and flood insurance. Together, Annex and Ascend are driving the industry forward by introducing a premium financing solution for residential flood policies, making it easier for homeowners to obtain essential protection against one of the most devastating natural disasters.

"Since homeowners policies typically do not cover floods, adoption rates for flood insurance are very low, even in high-risk areas. One of the main reasons is that flood insurance policies must be paid entirely upfront, creating additional financial burden for many homeowners," said Charlie Sido, Co-Founder at Annex. "We wanted to offer financing to make coverage accessible to a wider range of homeowners. Ascend was able to help us deliver on this vision as well as provide a single platform to automate all our AR/AP processes."

Ascend's platform, with its integrated agency and direct bill capabilities, ensures that MGAs like Annex can scale efficiently while offering a seamless payment experience to their customers. By automating premium collection, financing, and disbursement, Ascend strengthens the ability of MGAs to deliver innovative products at speed—ultimately driving greater insurance adoption and financial security for consumers.

"With Annex, we're pushing the industry forward to reimagine what is possible," said Jack Brown, Head of Customer Success at Ascend. "I'm thrilled to partner with them and support their innovative work in improving flood insurance accessibility through technology."