Comparator iSelect says its general insurance business performed well in the last financial year in the face of a difficult environment, as the COVID health crisis drags on.

“Despite lead challenges, our general insurance business delivered a strong result in [2020/21] with a focus on operational performance delivering improved conversion,” Chairman Brodie Arnhold and CEO Warren Hebard said.

“We saw growth in home and contents insurance and a continued shift toward our online sales channel.”

Last week the comparator reported its full-year earnings for the 12 months to June 30.

The general and life insurance arm recorded a 9% decline in operating revenue to $16.8 million from a year earlier. iSelect does not give a performance breakdown of the general and life insurance businesses.

It says in car insurance, online conversion improved 24% from the last comparative period, indicating further opportunity for growth in this channel.

iSelect says conversion ratio is used to measure the efficiency in turning leads into sales. An increase in the conversion ratio increases earnings without the need for additional marketing spend.

The comparator narrowed its overall net loss to $5.1 million from $43.5 million. However it increased its underlying earnings before interest and taxes to $6.9 million from $1.3 million.