Surety Bond Coverage
What is a Surety Bond?
Surety bonds help put landmarks on the map. They also support trade and other business needs. Surety bonds are a credit instrument that provides financial and performance guarantees in a contract. In essence, if one party, known as the principal, fails to fulfill a contractual obligation to another party, referred to the obligee, then the surety promises to pay the obligee a set amount. Since 1890, Zurich surety bonds have helped provide the assurances necessary to build the Hoover Dam, the Confederation Bridge and other visionary structures, including skyscrapers, highways, bridges and canals, both across the country and around the world.
Why choose Zurich for surety bonds?
Zurich offers deep experience, significant capacity and an empowered team of underwriters in the field. Our Surety Bond Validator allows businesses and governments to ensure that a principal’s bonds are in effect and up to the task. And we deliver when it matters most: Zurich customers rank our Claims service as among the industry-leading.
Top 3
Zurich is the third largest and the longest continuously operating surety provider in the U.S.1
over 85%
of the top 100 contractors choose Zurich for insurance protection.2
50 | 25
Zurich can provide surety bonds in all 50 states and approximately 25 countries.
Surety Bond Solutions
Contract surety bonds
Zurich offers a wide array of contract surety bonds to contractors ranging from small to large ENR 400 firms performing public works projects as well as private construction projects:
- Bid bonds
- Performance bonds
- Labor and material payment bonds
- Subcontract performance bonds
- Subdivision bonds
- Maintenance bonds
- Supply bonds
- License and permit bonds
- Environmental surety bonds
- Miscellaneous bonds
Commercial surety bonds
We provide both account-based and transactional surety solutions. Account-based customers span nearly every industry and include Fortune 2000 and regional companies requiring large individual bond capacities or many different bonds in multiple states. Zurich also provides a range of transactional options, designed for qualified customers who require a limited number of surety bonds each year:
- License and permit bonds
- Court bonds (judicial bonds and fiduciary bonds)
- Workers’ compensation self-insurance bonds
- Miscellaneous bonds
International surety bonds
With one of the largest global networks in the industry, Zurich is a leading provider of both contract and commercial surety bonds to international customers. Our international surety bonds are offered in approximately 25 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Surety Express
Zurich Surety Express is an online tool that enables users to book new surety bonds, view renewal status and modify existing bonds. It has been updated to provide easier access, new capabilities and much more.
Surety tools
Surety Bond Validator: The stakes are high. This user-friendly tool allows you to quickly confirm the legitimacy of a bond that’s been promised.
Surety Document Portal: With more than 130 years as a Surety provider, Zurich brings deep experience, significant capacity and an empowered team of local underwriters. Now, the Zurich Surety Document Portal delivers a new level of convenience and speed for securely submitting underwriting information.
Surety Benchmarking Report: Leveraging Zurich’s robust data, this helps our customers compare their financial performance against peers. We can help mine insights on risks and profitability. Zurich surety account executives will customize the report upon request, review details of the report and provide insights on how to better understand finances and overall profitability.
Related industry and insurance
1. The Surety & Fidelity Association of America. “Top 100 Writers of Surety Bonds.” 17 May 2023.
2. As of September 2021 and based on ENR 2021 Top 400 Contractors list cross-referenced with Zurich customers with a policy in force during the report year. ENR 400 (Engineering News-Record) rankings are based on construction revenue.