American National Announces First Quarter 2011 Results

GALVESTON, Texas, April 25, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American National Insurance
Company (Nasdaq:ANAT) announced first quarter 2011 net income of $48,482,000
($1.82 per diluted share) compared to net income of $34,778,000 ($1.30 per
diluted share) for the same period in 2010.

First quarter after tax operating earnings, which exclude net realized
investment gains and losses, were $34,162,000 ($1.28 per diluted share), as
compared with $24,052,000 ($0.90 per diluted share) for the same period in 2010.
After tax net realized investment gains were $14,320,000 ($0.54 per diluted
share) for the first quarter of 2011 as compared with the net realized gains of
$10,726,000 ($0.40 per diluted share) for the first quarter of 2010.

Revenues for the three months ending March 31, 2011 were up 2.4% from 2010.
Investment income increased by 9.6% in the first quarter of 2011 compared to
2010

Operating earnings improved as a result of a return to profitability for the
property and casualty segment. After tax operating earnings for the property and
casualty segment were $8.3 million for the first quarter of 2011 as compared to
an after tax operating loss of $7.6 million for the same period in 2010.

Total assets as of March 31, 2011 grew to $22.2 billion, a 3.4% increase from
the end of 2010. Stockholders' Equity as of March 31, 2011 was $3.7 billion, up
1.5% from the end of 2010. Book value per diluted share was $138.15 at March 31,
2011 as compared to $136.12 per share at December 31, 2010.

American National Insurance Company
COMPARATIVE OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Compiled on a GAAP basis (Preliminary & Unaudited)*

Quarter Ended
March 31,

2011 2010
------------ ------------
Revenues $756,828,000 $739,292,000
After-tax earnings:
Operating earnings ** $34,162,000 $24,052,000
Net realized investment gains $14,320,000 $10,726,000
Net income $48,482,000 $34,778,000

Per share earnings:
Operating earnings -- Diluted ** $1.28 $ 0.90
Net realized investment gains --
Diluted $0.54 $0.40
Net income -- Diluted $1.82 $1.30

Weighted average number of shares
upon which computations are based:
Diluted ** 26,690,498 26,652,210
Basic 26,559,643 26,558,832

As of

March 31, December 31,
2011 2010
------------ ------------

Book value per diluted share $138.15 $136.12

* Results are preliminary and unaudited. American National
expects to timely file its first quarter 2011 Form 10-Q.
** Operating earnings exclude after-tax realized investment
gains and losses. The sum of Operating earnings (losses) and
Net realized investment gains (losses) is equal to Net income
(loss).

American National Insurance Company (American National), headquartered in
Galveston, Texas was founded in 1905 and is licensed to conduct the business of
insurance in all states except New York. American National has been evaluated
and assigned the following ratings by nationally recognized rating agencies: A
(Excellent) by A.M. Best Company, third highest of 13 active company ratings
noted as "An excellent ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations" and
A+ (Strong) by Standard & Poor's, fifth highest of 20 active company ratings
noted as "Strong capacity to meet financial commitments but somewhat subject to
adverse economic conditions."

American National is also a family of companies that has, on a consolidated GAAP
basis, $22.2 billion in assets, $18.5 billion in liabilities and $3.7 billion in
stockholders' equity. The American National family of companies offers a broad
line of products and services, which include life insurance, annuities, health
insurance, credit insurance, pension products and property and casualty
insurance for personal lines, agribusiness, and targeted commercial exposures.
The American National family of companies operates in all 50 states and its
major insurance subsidiaries include American National Life Insurance Company of
Texas, Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company, American National Life
Insurance Company of New York, American National Property and Casualty Company,
Farm Family Life Insurance Company, Farm Family Casualty Insurance Company and
United Farm Family Insurance Company.

For more information, including company news and investor relations information,
visit the company's web site at www.anico.com.

The American National Insurance Company logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7772

CONTACT: John J. Dunn, Jr.
(409) 766-6063