Exhibit 99.1

            Erie Indemnity Confirms March 1, 2004, Deadline for
      Receipt of Board Nominations from Class B (voting) Shareholders

Erie,  Pa.,  February 13, 2004 - The bylaws of Erie Indemnity  Company  (Nasdaq:
ERIE) allow Class B  shareholders  of record to nominate  one or more persons as
candidates for the Company's Board of Directors. Class B shareholders have until
March 1, 2004, to submit  nominations to the Nominating  Committee in compliance
with the Company's bylaws.  The Board of Directors will be elected at the Annual
Meeting  of  Shareholders  scheduled  for  April  27,  2004,  at  the  Company's
headquarters in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Nominations  from Class B  shareholders  should be in writing and  directed  to:
Chair, Nominating Committee,  100 Erie Insurance Place, Erie, Pa., 16530, to the
attention  of  the  Corporate   Secretary.   The  nomination  must  contain  the
information required by the Company's bylaws. Copies of the Company's bylaws are
available to Class B shareholders  upon request to the Corporate  Secretary.  In
addition,  the provision of the Company's  bylaws  regarding  nominations may be
found in an  exhibit  to the  Company's  10-Q  filing  with the SEC for the nine
months ended  September 30, 2003,  which is posted on the  Company's  website at
www.erieinsurance.com.

On January 22, 2004, the Company's  Nominating  Committee publicly announced its
recommendations for director candidates to be considered for election by Class B
shareholders.

Erie Indemnity Company provides  management  services to the member companies of
the Erie Insurance Group, which includes the Erie Insurance  Exchange,  Flagship
City Insurance  Company,  Erie Insurance  Company,  Erie Insurance  Property and
Casualty  Company,  Erie  Insurance  Company  of New York and Erie  Family  Life
Insurance Company.

According  to  A.M.  Best  Company,   Erie  Insurance  Group,   based  in  Erie,
Pennsylvania,  is the 17th largest automobile insurer in the United States based
on direct premiums written and the 20th largest property/casualty insurer in the
United  States  based on total lines net premium  written.  The Group,  rated A+
(Superior) by A.M. Best Company, has more than 3.7 million policies in force and
operates in 11 states and the District of Columbia.  Erie Insurance Group ranked
454 on the FORTUNE 500 and is included in Forbes Magazine's PLATINUM 400 list of
the best-managed companies in America.

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