What does it mean to underwrite a surety bond?
Underwriters are concerned primarily with the risk of nonpayment on the part of the principal, whose creditworthiness is judged on the basis of financial data related to past transactions and projected business plans.
For example, if an individual applies for unemployment benefits before paying his employees’ wages, he will not be able to secure employment as a payroll officer because his name would be blacklisted by companies or corporations who hire their own staff or subcontractors. The reason for this is that underwriters look at applicants’ work history when deciding to approve a surety bond.
In the business of underwriting, insurance companies will assess an applicant’s creditworthiness. If they feel as if you are not good for your word, then the company may decline your application. In order to receive a surety bond, applicants must show financial stability and prove to potential underwriters that they are capable of paying off what they owe in time.
How is a surety bond underwritten?
Lenders usually require the underwriting company to sign off on appropriate credit. After all, they are taking the risk that you may not pay in order for them to make money. Most of the time, they will not accept your word that you have good credit or even what your income may be. They want this information in writing before they issue their approval and then present it to the bonding company for their consideration.
Another factor that is considered when evaluating your applications for bonding is the length of time you have lived at your present address. If you have lived in one location for less than two years, this could influence an underwriter not to recommend approving your application. Also, if you have moved frequently in the past few years, this too can work against you in the underwriting process.
Why is a surety bond underwritten?
In order to see if you are creditworthy and how much money it will cost for them to provide a surety bond, they will run a credit report on your business. If their findings indicate that they would not have to pay out on the contract in question, they will issue you a policy.
If however, their credit report indicates that the cost to provide you with a surety bond is greater than what they would stand to make under the agreement then your application for surety bond coverage will be denied.
It can take anywhere from three days to two weeks for a surety company to receive and process an application for bonding. A thorough background check into your character is required before any decisions are made regarding your surety needs.
Who underwrites a surety bond?
Bonds are financial guarantees from a surety company that the requirements of a contract have been met by all parties. A surety bond can be used as protection against losses for a business or organization. For example, an employer may require a construction company to post a worker’s compensation bond before hiring them to work on-site.
This means the construction company is ensuring they have insurance in case an employee gets injured on the job. They reduce their liability and protect other workers from hazards other than those covered under normal liability insurance policies.
The first part of understanding who underwrites a surety bond is understanding what types of bonds exist: “There are three basic categories of sureties—commercial, bail, and fidelity. The issuer of the bond (the principal) is obligated to pay a specified sum of money to another party (the obligee) if certain events occur. Commercial bonds are written on behalf of businesses, organizations, or governments; bail bonds are written in support of criminal justice proceedings, and fidelity bonds protect individuals against losses resulting from dishonest acts”.
Is it necessary that a surety bond is underwritten?
The issuer of this type of surety bond underwrites both sides of the contract. In other words, it agrees to both protect your business from financial loss and also promises that you will meet your obligations under the bond agreement.
The issuer collects premiums from every party involved in order to offset the cost of any claims that might need to be paid. If you fail to meet your contractual obligations, the issuer is responsible for paying the claim on your behalf.
Underwriting is a process in which an insurance company evaluates all of the risks associated with providing coverage to a potential client. The underwriter uses statistical data regarding claims rates, industry standards, and other financial indicators to make their determination as to whether or not they will provide coverage for the risk involved.
While this determination is made, it does not necessarily prohibit them from making certain types of coverage available at higher premiums or limiting certain aspects of the policy.