SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Department of Insurance has revoked the license of a Pontiac insurance agent and his firm and levied a $100,000 fine after officials said he failed to pay customers' premiums and engaged in improper insurance-related activity.

Earl D. Bertsche and Bertsche and Berry Inc., 321 W. Madison St., were accused of withholding thousands of dollars in insurance premiums due to insurers, issuing fraudulent certificates of insurance and defaulting on a $334,000 promissory note to a customer related to a premium.

State insurance officials took the action Sept. 10 against Bertsche.

"The department's action was necessary to protect Illinois consumers. Our core mission is to protect Illinois consumers, and the order against Mr. Bertsche further emphasizes that producer misconduct will not be tolerated," said Michael T. McRaith, Department of Insurance director, in a statement issued Friday.

The state probe into the Pontiac insurance company dates back to transactions in 2007 when an insurer questioned how Bertsche handled $75,000 in premiums, according to the state. Investigators also discovered that Bertsche allegedly issued four certificates of insurance that were not valid because premiums were not paid on behalf of the insured.

The promissory note for more than $334,000 with a remaining balance of $155,000 was issued to a customer whose premiums were not paid, said state regulators.

Bertsche may request a hearing to rebut the allegations.

Bertsche and his company also face a lawsuit filed last week by the Bank of Pontiac for more than $1 million in unpaid loan extensions and fees from two checking accounts.

Calls to the firm for comment were not immediately returned.