Sec Form 4 Filing - Pollak Matthew Robert @ State Auto Financial CORP - 2021-08-27

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Pollak Matthew Robert 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol State Auto Financial CORP [ STFC] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Vice President (Last) (First) (Middle) 518 E. BROAD STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 08/27/2021 (Street) COLUMBUS, OH43215 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Shares without par value 08/27/2021 M 3,486 A $ 22.72 $ 10,708.067 ( 1 ) D Common Shares without par value 08/27/2021 S 3,486 D $ 50.1 7,222.067 ( 1 ) D Common Shares without par value 08/27/2021 M 3,379 A $ 21.54 10,601.067 ( 1 ) D Common Shares without par value 08/27/2021 S 3,379 D $ 50.11 7,222.067 ( 1 ) D Common Shares without par value 08/27/2021 M 3,898 A $ 21.23 11,120.067 ( 1 ) D Common Shares without par value 08/27/2021 S 3,898 D $ 50.09 7,222.067 ( 1 ) D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Employee Stock Option Right to Buy (NQ) $ 22.72 08/27/2021 M 3,486 03/05/2016 03/05/2025 Common Shares 3,486 $ 0 ( 2 ) 0 D Employee Stock Option Right to Buy (NQ) $ 21.54 08/27/2021 M 3,379 03/03/2017 03/03/2026 Common Shares 3,379 $ 0 ( 2 ) 0 D Employee Stock Option Right to Buy (NQ) $ 21.23 08/27/2021 M 3,898 03/06/2015 03/06/2024 Common Shares 3,898 $ 0 ( 2 ) 0 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Pollak Matthew Robert 518 E. BROAD STREET COLUMBUS, OH43215 Vice President Signatures /s/Matthew Robert Pollak by Melissa A. Centers, attorney in fact, pursuant to POA filed with commission 3-7-16. 08/30/2021 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Includes the following acquisitions: 565.902 shares acquired in June 2021 under the State Auto Financial Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan; Also includes 0.608 shares acquired in March 2021and 0.671 shares acquired in June 2021 in a DRIP Account. ( 2 )Field should be left blank, but due to a software defect, requires imput.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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