RICHFIELD, Ohio, Aug. 20, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- National Interstate,
a leading provider of passenger transportation insurance, reports that
it now insures 30,000 school buses. The company also estimates that
these units represent approximately 20% of school bus contractors'
vehicles on US roads.

National Interstate has been insuring school buses since its inception
in 1989. The company offers a full suite of coverages including
automobile and general liability, physical damage, garage liability,
and workers' compensation for alternative risk clients. Programs
include traditional insurance, as well as several innovative
alternative risk transfer programs for best-in-class school bus
operations.

"Insuring school buses has always been one of our core markets, and we
are excited about our ongoing growth in this business segment," said
Terry Phillips Senior Vice President of National Interstate. "We were
also pleased to note that 32% of the prestigious School Bus Fleet's
2012 Top 50 Contractors are insured with National Interstate. It is our
long-term experience, expertise and commitment to the school bus market
that allows us to build our customer base and meet the industry's
highly-specialized needs."

"We attribute our success in the school bus arena to the partnerships
that we build with our customers," added Jim Parks, Vice President of
National Interstate. "One of the ways we foster relationships is by
helping our insureds become better operators. We offer an extensive
portfolio of risk management tools which we are continually expanding
and enhancing. For example, in March of this year we rolled out a
school bus driver training course which we are making available to all
school bus clients insured with National Interstate. To date, over 35%
of our customers have the course, and we continue to offer educational
webinars to ensure they reap the full benefits of the program. This
initiative not only helps customers minimize losses, it also assists in
controlling insurance costs while making transportation safer for
drivers, children and the general public."

For more information about National Interstate's school bus contractor
insurance programs, contact Mike Bissler, at 800-929-1500 x1349, or
mike.bissler@natl.com.

About National Interstate

National Interstate Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of
National Interstate Corporation, is a specialty property and casualty
insurance company with a niche orientation and focus on the
transportation industry. We differentiate ourselves by offering
insurance products and services designed to meet the unique needs of
targeted insurance buyers. Products include insurance for passenger,
moving and storage, and truck transportation companies, alternative
risk transfer, or captive insurance programs for commercial risks,
specialty personal lines consisting of insurance products focused
primarily on recreational vehicle owners and small commercial vehicle
accounts, and transportation and general commercial insurance in Hawaii
and Alaska. National Interstate and its insurance subsidiaries, which
include Vanliner Insurance Company and Triumphe Casualty Company, are
rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company. Founded in 1989, we are
headquartered in Richfield, Ohio with operations in Honolulu, Hawaii,
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and Fenton, Missouri.


CONTACT: Tanya Inama
         National Interstate Corporation
         877-837-0339
         investorrelations@natl.com
         www.natl.com