Eastern Insurance Group has purchased Northwestern Benefit Assoc.’ group benefits business, the company announced today.

“We are excited to welcome Northwestern Benefit Associates employees and customers to the Eastern Insurance family,” Hope A. Aldrich, president and CEO of Eastern Insurance, said in a statement.  “Northwestern Benefit Assoc. has an excellent reputation for superior customer service and products, making it a perfect cultural fit to our organization.”

The insurance subsidiary of Eastern Bank said in a statement that the deal with bring Eastern Insurance’s customers a broader range of benefits services and capabilities.

“We are proud of what we have built in providing the best group benefits insurance plans for employers and their employees,” Charles R. Diamond, president of Northwestern Benefit Associates, said in a statement.  “We believe that the choice of Eastern Insurance will serve our clients and employees extremely well with their ability to provide elevated resources and services.”

Northwestern Benefits’ office at One Beacon Street in Boston will remain open and will be rebranded as Eastern Insurance later this year, bringing Eastern Insurance up to 25 locations across New England. All current Northwestern employees will join Eastern following the merger.