Surety
Old Republic Surety
Old Republic Surety Company underwrites contract surety for contractors and commercial surety including license and permit bonds, public official bonds, business services bonds, credit-based performance bonds, and commercial fidelity. It is headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin and is part of the Old Republic Specialty Insurance Group, the largest business segment within Old Republic International Corporation (NYSE: ORI).
Bonds are not sold direct. They are distributed through an appointed agency network the About page describes as more than 4,000 independent insurance agencies and the history page puts at over 4,800, supported by branch offices around the country and field underwriters who route complex submissions back to home office underwriting. Commercial bonds are configured through the company's BONDSTAR system, maintained by an Agency Services department at the Brookfield head office.
The company states it is licensed in all 50 states, holds a Best's credit rating of 'A+', and carries a Treasury listing in excess of $200 million. It describes itself as writing surety since 1923 and as a subsidiary of Old Republic International since 1986. Its published history tracks contract bonding capacity rising over time, reaching $100 million and above in 2017.
Underwriting is described as case by case rather than program-driven: every submission is reviewed on its own merits, with no computer-program underwriting. Contractors and business owners reach the company through an appointed agent, so capacity for a specific account, bond forms, and rates are all quoted through that agent.
Best for
Contractors and businesses that already work with an independent agent and need performance, payment, license, or permit bonds from an A+ rated carrier. Not a direct-to-owner source: bonds are written only through appointed agencies.
What they do
- Contract performance and payment bonds
- License and permit bonds
- Public official bonds
- Business services bonds
- Credit-based performance bonds
- Commercial fidelity bonds
- BONDSTAR commercial bond platform
- Contract and commercial surety claims handling
Details
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Ownership | Subsidiary |
| Other offices | Overland Park, KS, Atlanta, GA, Phoenix, AZ, Vestavia Hills, AL, Sacramento, CA, Charlotte, NC, Erie, PA, Harrisburg, PA, Hackensack, NJ, Tampa, FL, Portland, OR |
| Licenses | Licensed in all 50 states, U.S. Treasury listing in excess of $200 million |
| Memberships | Best's credit rating of 'A+' |
What stands out
- States it is licensed in all 50 states and carries a Treasury listing in excess of $200 million.
- Reports a Best's credit rating of 'A+'.
- Describes itself as writing surety since 1923 and a subsidiary of Old Republic International since 1986.
- Appointed agency network is described as over 4,000 independent agencies on the About page and over 4,800 on the history page.
- Part of Old Republic Specialty Insurance Group within Old Republic International Corporation (NYSE: ORI).