Over A Century Of Trust. One Family. One Community.
The story of KBK Insurance Agency is the story of Watsonville. Rooted in the Pajaro Valley since 1908 and still growing stronger with every generation.
It Started With A Handshake in 1908
In 1908, the same year the Ford Model T rolled off the assembly line for the first time, a man named John Francis Kane opened an insurance agency in the heart of the Pajaro Valley. The world was a different place. There were no computers, no call centers, no comparison websites. There was just a man, his community, and a promise to protect what mattered most to the people who trusted him.
That promise has never been broken.
118 years later KBK Insurance Agency is still here. Still independent. Still family owned. Still rooted in the same community John Francis Kane called home. What started as one man's commitment to his neighbors has grown into a team of dedicated professionals serving thousands of families and businesses across Santa Cruz and Monterey County.
Five generations of the Kane family have carried that original promise forward. Not because they had to, but because they believed in it.
Our Journey
1908 - The Beginning
John Francis Kane founds the agency in Watsonville, California; planting roots in the Pajaro Valley that would grow for generations to come.
1917
John Francis Kane’s son, Harold L. Kane, takes over the family business after his father’s passing. The agency provides insurance, real estate, and fruit brokerage solutions.
1950s
Harold’s son, John W. Kane, joins the firm after graduating from Santa Clara University. John takes over the firm in 1954 after Harold is elected into public office.
1962 - Kane Hall Palmtag
Sees the successful merger of Kane Real Estate & Insurance and Edward A. Hall Agency. The merged company brought 89 years of combined service to those in the Pajaro Valley.
1980s
John’s two sons, John W. Kane III and Jeff Kane, join the agency, marking the 4th generation of Kane’s to work in the family business.
1996
Kane Hall Palmtag and Martin & Friend Insurance merge, creating what is now KBK Insurance Agency with Ed Banks joining John and Jeff as partners in the new firm.
Today
Winners of six straight Santa Cruz County “Agency of the Year” awards, KBK Insurance Agency continues to be a leader in the community.
What We Believe
People First
Insurance is just a product. What we really provide is peace of mind. Every policy we write represents a family protected, a business secured, a legacy preserved. We never lose sight of the people behind the paperwork.
Reputation of Trust
We have been in this community long enough to know that reputation is everything. We will always tell you the truth, recommend what is right for you, and stand behind what we say. That kind of trust takes decades to build and we protect it fiercely.
Community Rooted
We do not just work in this community. We live in it. We coach youth sports, lead civic organizations, support local causes, and show up for our neighbors the same way our founder did in 1908.
118 Years Down. Generations To Go.
We do not know exactly what the next 118 years will look like. New risks will emerge, new products will be created, and new generations of families and businesses will need someone they can trust.
What we do know is this. The Kane family will be here. This community will be home. And the promise John Francis Kane made in 1908 will still be kept.
We are grateful for every client who has trusted us with what matters most to them. That trust is not something we take lightly. It never will be.
Ready to become a part of our story?