CNA Opens New Branch Office in Chicago

Commercial insurer continues "winning company" strategies with extended
geographic reach.

CHICAGO--(Business Wire)--
CNA Financial Corporation (NYSE: CNA) announced the official opening of its
newest branch office: Chicago. Located in downtown`s "South Loop," the new
Chicago branch continues CNA`s "winning company" strategy announced earlier this
year by extending the global business insurer`s geographic footprint and
enabling closer proximity to its agents, brokers and customers.

"In this challenging economic environment, we are fortunate to be among the few
businesses that are opening new doors and expanding employment opportunities
within our industry," said Tom Motamed, chairman and chief executive officer,
CNA. "Our new Chicago branch will allow us to better connect with our agents and
brokers to, ultimately, better serve our customers.

"The new branch also enables CNA to penetrate Chicago`s robust market and
diverse industries, particularly in our key areas of expertise such as
Technology, Education, Real Estate, Manufacturing & Distribution, and
Business/Professional Services," Motamed continued.

In addition, CNA will add resources and point-of-sale authority in this location
and its nearby Lombard office. Steve Wachtel, senior vice president, Northern
Zone, will lead the Chicago office.

CNA`s Chicago branch is located at 333 S. Wabash, Chicago, IL, 60604, also the
site of its Home Office headquarters. Over the next 12 months, additional new
branch offices are scheduled to open in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Baltimore
and upstate New York. For additional details or more information, please visit
www.cna.com.

Serving businesses and professionals since 1897, CNA is the country`s seventh
largest commercial insurance writer and the 13th largest property and casualty
company. CNA`s insurance products include standard commercial lines, specialty
lines, surety, marine and other property and casualty coverages. CNA's services
include risk management, information services, underwriting, risk control and
claims administration. For more information, please visit CNA at www.cna.com.
CNA is a registered trade mark of CNA Financial Corporation.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT

This press release may include statements which relate to anticipated future
events (forward-looking statements) rather than actual present conditions or
historical events. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and generally
include words such as "believes", "expects", "intends", "anticipates",
"estimates", and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements, by their
nature, are subject to a variety of inherent risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from the results projected. Many of
these risks and uncertainties cannot be controlled by CNA. For a detailed
description of these risks and uncertainties please refer to CNA`s filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at www.cna.com.

Any forward-looking statements made in this press release are made by CNA as of
the date of this press release. Further, CNA does not have any obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statement contained in this press release,
even if CNA`s expectations or any related events, conditions or circumstances
change.

CNA Financial Corporation
Katrina Parker, 312/822-5167

Copyright Business Wire 2009