The story of Bitco begins in 1917 when the forerunner of today's company was organized as a reciprocal exchange to provide workers compensation exclusively to the coal mine industry. In 1928 the company incorporated and formed Bituminous Casualty Corporation and in 1933 expanded to include workers compensation and liability insurance for industrial operations.
   Automobile lines were added in 1942 through the addition of Bituminous Fire and Marine Insurance Company. This subsidiary was needed at the time in order to write automobile collision, comprehensive, fire, theft and miscellaneous physical damage coverage.
   Property insurance, including business package policies, was added in 1963.
   In 1973 Bitco Corporation was organized by Bituminous as a holding company and the Bituminous Insurance Companies became wholly-owned subsidiaries of Bitco.
   In 1981 Great West Casualty Company became affiliated with the Bituminous Insurance Companies through its acquisition by Bitco. Great West specializes in providing insurance coverage primarily to the motor carrier industry.
   In March of 1985 Bitco and all of its subsidiaries merged with Old Republic. In addition to Bitco and its subsidiary companies, the Old Republic Group includes other major subsidiaries covering a wide variety of insurance coverages in the property and liability, life and health, title and mortgage guaranty insurance fields. Old Republic is recognized nationally as one of the preeminent insurers of workers compensation programs. Over the years it has steadily broadened its product line to include specialty areas where its expertise can be particularly advantageous.

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Bituminous Insurance Companies (Bitco) and its subsidiaries are a part of the Old Republic International family of companies. Old Republic International Corporation (ORI) is a Chicago-based holding company which owns and operates a group of insurance companies known as the Old Republic Group.