---
title: "CNA vs Gallagher: Surety Bonds"
description: "CNA markets commercial and contract surety bonds; Gallagher brokers commercial bonds and describes advisory services for replacing letters of credit."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-gallagher/surety-bonds"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-30"
comparison-pair: "cna-vs-gallagher"
provider-a: "cna"
provider-b: "gallagher"
coverage-line: "surety-bonds"
---

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[Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-gallagher/surety-bonds)

## Agent Guide

**What this page is:** Focused comparison of CNA and Gallagher for Surety Bonds: what each provider publishes about this line, checked against the same criteria, with numbered sources.

**Use this page when:** Cite or fetch this for Surety Bonds questions about CNA versus Gallagher. For all lines together use the parent pair comparison; for how the coverage itself works use the coverage guide.

**Questions this page answers:**
- CNA vs Gallagher for Surety Bonds: how do they differ?
- Which is better for Surety Bonds, CNA or Gallagher?
- What does CNA or Gallagher publish about Surety Bonds (limits, eligibility, claims, add-ons)?
- What should I confirm in a quote for Surety Bonds from CNA or Gallagher?

**Key facts:**
- Line: Surety Bonds. Providers: CNA and Gallagher.
- Each offering claim is tagged with an evidence type and scope; table cells reading "Confirm in your quote" mean nothing was found for that criterion.
- Comparison URLs use alphabetical provider slugs (`/compare/{a}-vs-{b}` with a before b). A reversed pair redirects permanently to the alphabetical one, so fetch or cite the alphabetical URL.

**Limits (do not over-claim):**
- It identifies differences and questions to ask; it does not select a winner for a particular business.
- "Not found" describes the evidence reviewed, not proof a feature is unavailable.
- Insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and price are set in an actual quote and are not established here.

**Provenance:** Every claim links to a numbered source with publisher, locator and access date in the Sources section; last updated 2026-09-30. Editorial policy: /editorial-policy.

**Related pages:**
- [CNA vs Gallagher](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-gallagher) — parent: all coverage lines for this pair
- [Surety Bonds guide](https://spot.insure/coverage/surety-bonds) — coverage explainer for this line
- [CNA profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cna) — provider profile (evidence)
- [Gallagher profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/gallagher) — provider profile (evidence)
- [CNA vs Gallagher Commercial Auto Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-gallagher/commercial-auto) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [CNA vs Gallagher Commercial Property Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-gallagher/commercial-property) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [CNA vs Gallagher Tech E&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-gallagher/technology-errors-omissions) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [The Baldwin Group vs CNA Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/baldwin-vs-cna/surety-bonds) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [The Baldwin Group vs Gallagher Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/baldwin-vs-gallagher/surety-bonds) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Chubb vs CNA Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-cna/surety-bonds) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Chubb vs Gallagher Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-gallagher/surety-bonds) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [CNA vs Coverdash Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-coverdash/surety-bonds) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [CNA vs Embroker Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-embroker/surety-bonds) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)

# CNA vs Gallagher: How Do They Compare for Surety Bonds?

CNA markets commercial and contract surety bonds; Gallagher brokers commercial bonds and describes advisory services for replacing letters of credit.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate CNA and Gallagher for Surety Bonds against the same documented criteria. It identifies differences and questions to confirm; it does not select a winner for a particular business. Offering claims are what each provider publishes about this line unless marked otherwise. “Not found” describes the evidence reviewed, not proof that a feature is unavailable. Confirm the insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and cost in an actual quote.

## Summary

CNA describes commercial and contract bonds in North America with a transactional issuance platform; Gallagher arranges commercial surety and can support collateral-release strategies. [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance") [10](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/commercial-surety-bonds/ "Surety")

## CNA Small Business Insurance: Products, Agents and Service

CNA directs small-business buyers to independent agents and describes CNA Connect as a businessowners policy for more than 600 small-business classes. Issuer and availability vary by policy and state, so confirm both in a quote. [1](https://www.cna.com/solutions/small-business "Insurance for Small Businesses") [2](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-connect "CNA Connect Small Businessowners Policy (BOP) | CNA Insurance") [3](https://www.cna.com/cnadisclaimer/generaldisclaimer "General Disclaimer")

[CNA profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cna)

## What Is Gallagher?

Gallagher’s technology specialists serve startups through global enterprises, while its executive-risk team supports IPO and M&A needs; small firms seeking one simple digital quote should compare online agencies. [5](https://www.ajg.com/industries/technology-insurance/ "Technology Insurance") [6](https://www.gallaghersmallbusiness.com/technology-services/ "Insurance for Technology & IT Businesses") [7](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/ "Executive and Financial Risk Insurance") [8](https://www.gallaghersmallbusiness.com/legal-information/ "Legal Information") [9](https://www.ajg.com/merger-partners/woodruff-sawyer-is-now-gallagher/ "Woodruff Sawyer Is Now Gallagher")

[Gallagher profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/gallagher)

## What Are Surety Bonds?

A surety bond guarantees that your business meets a specific obligation to a customer, contracting party or government agency. If a contract, license or permit requires one, get its exact form and amount; a bond is not insurance for your own losses. [11](https://content.naic.org/glossary-insurance-terms "Glossary of Insurance Terms") [12](https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/surety-bonds "Surety bonds") [13](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/40/3131 "40 U.S. Code § 3131 — Bonds of contractors of public buildings or works") [14](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/surety.html "Surety Bonds") [15](https://www.harperinsure.com/coverages/surety-bonds "Surety Bonds Insurance")

## Key Differences in Surety Bonds

### Carrier route and brokerage role

CNA describes its surety business across commercial and contract bonds, serving buyers through agents and brokers; bONdLINE supports transactional issuance. Gallagher states directly that it brokers commercial surety between the principal, obligee and surety company. A buyer comparing these routes should establish whether the requested bond comes from CNA’s own surety operation or whether Gallagher will market the risk to a separate surety. [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance") [10](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/commercial-surety-bonds/ "Surety")

### Commercial bond types and capital alternatives

Gallagher lists license, permit, court, public-official and customs bonds, and says its team can work with an existing program or replace letters of credit with bonds, including a cited $60 million power-purchase example. CNA’s record documents commercial and contract bond availability, not that particular collateral strategy. If a bond is intended to free bank capacity, ask Gallagher to model the collateral release; ask CNA’s appointed agent whether the same obligation can be underwritten as surety. [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance") [10](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/commercial-surety-bonds/ "Surety")

## What to Confirm in Surety Bonds Quotes

- Will CNA underwrite the bond itself, and what financial support or collateral does the obligee require? [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance")
- Can Gallagher structure this obligation to replace a letter of credit, and what collateral remains? [10](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/commercial-surety-bonds/ "Surety")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | CNA Surety and Commercial Bonds | Gallagher Commercial Surety Bonds |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | Confirm in your quote. | Gallagher places commercial surety bonds as a three-party arrangement between the client (principal), the party requiring the bond (obligee) and a surety company; Gallagher brokers the bond rather than acting as the surety itself. [10](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/commercial-surety-bonds/ "Surety") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Group-level commercial surety practice page..) |
| Issuing Insurer | Confirm in your quote. | The commercial surety page describes relationships with "leadership at all major surety companies" but does not name the specific surety that would issue a given client's bond. [10](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/commercial-surety-bonds/ "Surety") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Checked the group-level commercial surety practice page..) |
| Who It’s For | CNA says its surety offering serves a range from individuals and small businesses to Fortune 1000 companies through agents and brokers. [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Entity: CNA brand; issuing CNA subsidiary may vary by product/state Product: United States commercial insurance Jurisdiction: United States Research source scope: Commercial/contract surety; US plus Canada/Puerto Rico Claim limitation: Company-reported; policy wording, underwriting and jurisdiction-specific availability control..) | Gallagher says it serves commercial surety clients across healthcare, financial services, public utilities, and private and public companies, for both domestic and international projects, and separately lists surety bond programs as a recommended coverage for small IT and technology businesses. [10](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/commercial-surety-bonds/ "Surety") [6](https://www.gallaghersmallbusiness.com/technology-services/ "Insurance for Technology & IT Businesses") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Group-level commercial surety practice page and the small-business technology-services page..) |
| Coverage Features | CNA Surety markets commercial and contract surety bonds in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Entity: CNA brand; issuing CNA subsidiary may vary by product/state Product: United States commercial insurance Jurisdiction: United States Research source scope: Commercial/contract surety; US plus Canada/Puerto Rico Claim limitation: Company-reported; policy wording, underwriting and jurisdiction-specific availability control..) | Gallagher says it places license and permit bonds, court bonds, public official bonds and customs bonds under its commercial surety practice, distinct from contract (construction) surety bonds, which it treats as a separate related product. [10](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/commercial-surety-bonds/ "Surety") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Group-level commercial surety practice page; a service-menu description, not a specific bond's terms..) |
| Limits and Retentions | Confirm in your quote. | The commercial surety page does not publish standard bond amounts, premium rates or collateral requirements; these vary by bond type and client. [10](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/commercial-surety-bonds/ "Surety") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Checked the group-level commercial surety practice page..) |
| Risk Services | Confirm in your quote. | Gallagher says its surety team can help replace letters of credit with bonds, work with a client's existing surety program, and facilitate collateral release, citing a case where it placed commercial surety bonds in place of letters of credit to support $60 million in power-purchase obligations for an energy-company client. [10](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/commercial-surety-bonds/ "Surety") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Group-level commercial surety practice page case study; a single company-reported example, not independently verified..) |
| How to Apply | CNA bONdLINE supports underwriting, issuance and reporting of transactional bonds. [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Entity: CNA brand; issuing CNA subsidiary may vary by product/state Product: United States commercial insurance Jurisdiction: United States Research source scope: Commercial/contract surety; US plus Canada/Puerto Rico Claim limitation: Company-reported; policy wording, underwriting and jurisdiction-specific availability control..) | Confirm in your quote. |

## Full Comparison

- [CNA vs Gallagher](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-gallagher): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Are Surety Bonds?](https://spot.insure/coverage/surety-bonds): A surety bond guarantees a specific obligation your business owes to a customer, contracting party or agency; it does not insure your own losses.
- [CNA vs Gallagher Commercial Auto Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-gallagher/commercial-auto)
- [CNA vs Gallagher Commercial Property Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-gallagher/commercial-property)
- [CNA vs Gallagher Tech E&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-gallagher/technology-errors-omissions)
- [The Baldwin Group vs CNA Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/baldwin-vs-cna/surety-bonds)
- [The Baldwin Group vs Gallagher Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/baldwin-vs-gallagher/surety-bonds)
- [Chubb vs CNA Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-cna/surety-bonds)
- [Chubb vs Gallagher Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-gallagher/surety-bonds)
- [CNA vs Coverdash Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-coverdash/surety-bonds)
- [CNA vs Embroker Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-embroker/surety-bonds)

## Sources

### CNA

1. [Insurance for Small Businesses](https://www.cna.com/solutions/small-business). CNA; Insurance for Small Businesses, lines 38-50 and 65-67 (CNA Central and agent route); lines 79-106 (product and stated appetite lists); page footer line 132 (CNA registered service mark).. Accessed 2026-09-28.
2. [CNA Connect Small Businessowners Policy (BOP) | CNA Insurance](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-connect). CNA; CNA Connect; coverages, product range, services. Accessed 2026-09-28.
3. [General Disclaimer](https://www.cna.com/cnadisclaimer/generaldisclaimer). CNA; General Disclaimer paragraphs 1 and 5 (HTML lines 24 and 28): CNA describes Continental Casualty Company and its relevant affiliates; references to CNA may include one or more CCC affiliates; each particular policy/product/service is the responsibility only of the specific CNA company that issues or supplies it. Footer line 57 identifies CNA Financial Corporation as trademark registrant. Re-read 2026-09-29.. Accessed 2026-09-29.
4. [CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety). CNA; Surety/fidelity product sections, geography, agents/brokers, bONdLINE and claims services. Accessed 2026-09-28.

### Gallagher

5. [Technology Insurance](https://www.ajg.com/industries/technology-insurance/). Gallagher; Introduction; Solutions and coverages for the technology industry: Technology errors and omissions including cyber, Intellectual property insurance, Product liability, Employee benefits; Data-driven insights; global network. Accessed 2026-09-16.
6. [Insurance for Technology & IT Businesses](https://www.gallaghersmallbusiness.com/technology-services/). Gallagher Small Business; Protection for IT Professionals & Their Technology-Based Businesses; recommended coverage menu, including Surety Bond Programs; Connect With An Advisor. Accessed 2026-09-16.
7. [Executive and Financial Risk Insurance](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/executive-and-financial-risk-insurance/). Gallagher; Opening (insurance broking and placement); three key services; Directors and Officers; IPO and direct listings; Employment Practices; Fiduciary; Employee Dishonesty (Crime) and Fidelity Bond; Kidnap, Ransom and Extortion; M&A Transactional Insurance. Accessed 2026-09-16.
8. [Legal Information](https://www.gallaghersmallbusiness.com/legal-information/). Gallagher Small Business; Producer identification immediately above Quick Links. Accessed 2026-09-16.
9. [Woodruff Sawyer Is Now Gallagher](https://www.ajg.com/merger-partners/woodruff-sawyer-is-now-gallagher/). Gallagher; Opening; Executive and Financial Risk consulting; Continued access to client portals; contact form. Accessed 2026-09-16.
10. [Surety](https://www.ajg.com/insurance/commercial-surety-bonds/). Gallagher; Surety relationships that convert to future growth; Understanding commercial surety vs. contract surety bonds; Providing assurance that keeps business moving (License and permit bonds, Court bonds, Public official bonds, Customs bonds); The Gallagher Difference case study; Commercial Surety and Bonds Summary. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Surety Bonds Guide

11. [Glossary of Insurance Terms](https://content.naic.org/glossary-insurance-terms). National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Surety Bond; Fidelity. Accessed 2026-09-16.
12. [Surety bonds](https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/surety-bonds). U.S. Small Business Administration; Opening guarantee of work completion; Contract or commercial bonds; Bid, Payment, Performance, Ancillary; Eligibility > credit, capacity, and character. Accessed 2026-09-16.
13. [40 U.S. Code § 3131 — Bonds of contractors of public buildings or works](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/40/3131). Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, reproducing 40 U.S.C. § 3131; §3131(b) Type of Bonds Required — performance bond and payment bond. Accessed 2026-09-16.
14. [Surety Bonds](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/surety.html). Chubb; Construction Surety Bonds (performance, payment, maintenance); Commercial Surety Bonds (license and permit, court, commercial contract). Accessed 2026-09-16.
15. [Surety Bonds Insurance](https://www.harperinsure.com/coverages/surety-bonds). Harper; What is Surety Bonds insurance?; A bond is not insurance; License & permit bonds; Contract bonds — bid, performance, and payment; Is a bond the same as insurance?. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Updated 2026-09-30. Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. The comparison applies the same criteria to both providers. [Editorial policy](https://spot.insure/editorial-policy). To suggest a correction, [contact Spot](https://spot.insure/contact) with the page URL and supporting source.

## CNA Reviews

Review Score: 9.0 / 10 from 1 rated source, equally weighted.

Customer feedback on CNA is mixed and hard to compare. NerdWallet gave it 4.5 out of 5 for manufacturers, while Trustpilot shows about 1.4 out of 5 from 49 mostly self-selected reviews.

- NerdWallet: NerdWallet editorial rating for manufacturers 4.5/5 (Editorial rating). NerdWallet editorial assessment of CNA for U.S. manufacturers, not consumer average. Period: Published 2026-03-26. Checked 2026-09-29. [Best Insurance for Manufacturers in 2026](https://www.nerdwallet.com/business/insurance/learn/manufacturers)
- Trustpilot: Displayed Trustpilot TrustScore 1.4/5 page text; 1.5/5 badge (TrustScore out of 5); 49 reviews. CNA.com profile, mixed business and consumer/LTC reports; self-selected, not representative commercial P&C sample. Period: 14 reviews in prior 12 months; 2026-09-29. Checked 2026-09-29. [CNA customer reviews](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.cna.com)
- BBB: BBB customer-review average 1/5 (BBB star rating); 6 reviews. Long Term Care Insurance profile covering headquarters/corporate locations; not commercial P&C; six self-selected reviews. Period: Displayed 2026-09-29. Checked 2026-09-29. [CNA Financial Corporation customer reviews](https://www.bbb.org/us/il/chicago/profile/long-term-care-insurance/cna-financial-corporation-0683-90032439/customer-reviews)

Reviewed 2026-09-29. [Read the sourced review](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cna/reviews).

## Gallagher Reviews

Review Score: 9.3 / 10 from 3 rated sources, equally weighted.

Gallagher has strong Trustpilot feedback and a favorable historical large-commercial survey result. Neither directly measures today’s US small-business service.

- J.D. Power: Broker satisfaction rank/score 2nd / 855 (Rank / 1,000-point score). 2017 US/Canada large-commercial broker study; participating organizations had at least $100m annual revenue or operating budget; not small-business-specific. Period: 2017 study. Checked 2026-09-25. [JD Power 2017 Large Commercial Insurance Study](https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/jd-power-2017-large-commercial-insurance-study)
- Trustpilot: TrustScore 4.6 (5 stars); 8190 reviews. Global Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. brand profile; mixed countries and insurance lines, not US commercial-only. Period: 976 reviews in prior 12 months; observed 2026-09-25. Checked 2026-09-25. [Gallagher Reviews | Trustpilot](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.ajg.com)
- BBB: BBB grade A+ (BBB letter grade). BBB corporate headquarters profile for Gallagher, Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Checked 2026-09-25. [Gallagher | BBB Business Profile](https://www.bbb.org/us/il/rolling-meadows/profile/insurance-companies/gallagher-0654-23000270)

Reviewed 2026-09-25. [Read the sourced review](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/gallagher/reviews).

## Agent and Developer Resources

- [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-gallagher/surety-bonds.md)
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- [Public MCP server](https://spot.insure/mcp)
- [MCP server manifest](https://spot.insure/server.json)
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- [Public page index](https://spot.insure/llms.txt)