For Eastern Insurance, the acquisition increases its customer base west of Boston, where it already has eight locations. In all, Natick-based Eastern Insurance has 26 locations in eastern and central Massachusetts and parts of Connecticut and New Hampshire, making it New England’s largest independent insurance agency.

The expertise and services available to clients of Kittredge, particularly in the areas of commercial and benefits insurance are expanded by the merger. In addition, Eastern Insurance is the largest personal lines agency headquartered in Massachusetts.

Eastern Insurance, headquartered in Natick, is a subsidiary of Eastern Bank, the largest independent, mutually owned bank in New England with branches stretching from Merrimack Valley to Cape Cod. Eastern Insurance serves more than 70,000 individuals and businesses and provides a full range of personal and commercial insurance products, surety, and employee benefits services, including group health and life insurance and 401(k) administration.

Business Management Group, a subsidiary of The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE: HIG), served as advisor to Kittredge Insurance Agency, Inc. in this transaction.