A Shelton insurance agency is joining a Bangor, Maine-based independent insurance provider.

Cross Insurance, a subsidiary of Cross Financial Corp. and one of the largest independent insurance providers in New England, is teaming up with DiMatteo Insurance of Shelton.

The DiMatteo family-owned agency founded in 1960 handles all lines of business including employee benefits.

“The Di Matteo office in Shelton is a well-known and long-standing insurance agency in the area,” Cross Insurance President and CEO Royce Cross said in a statement. “Our partnership with DiMatteo Insurance will enable them to broaden its market opportunities, including expanded personal and commercial lines in New England and throughout the country.”

“We see many synergies with this new partnership, and we are thrilled to join the Cross Insurance family of agencies,” DiMatteo Insurance head Kim DiMatteo said in a statement.  “We both have a long tradition as family-owned businesses. This new arrangement is mutually beneficial. Our thousands of customers will continue to be handled by the same local account managers and producers.”

Previously referred to as DiMatteo Group, the business has spun off into three divisions: DiMatteo Insurance is overseen by Kim DiMatteo of Bethany; DiMatteo Group-Financial LLC, headed up by Kim’s husband, John DiMatteo; and DiMatteo Group-Tax and Accounting, managed by Rosemarie Esposito of Shelton. Other family members involved in the business include Loretta Lesko of Shelton, who is a partner in the tax business as well as a training supervisor in the insurance division. Her husband Robert Lesko specializes in insurance sales and also is a partner in the tax division. A total of 25 employees from all the divisions will remain located at 79 Bridgeport Ave. in Shelton.

Since its founding in 1954, Cross Insurance has grown extensively through the acquisition of more than 100 insurance agencies throughout New England. The company now has 800 employees operating out of offices in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.