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. 1,2,3
What Is Lockton?
Lockton suits technology companies and larger businesses seeking a broker across cyber, D&O, property, liability and benefits; small firms wanting an instant standard quote should compare digital agencies. 5,6,7
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. 9,10,11,12,13
Key Differences in Surety Bonds
Transactional underwriting and broker representation
CNA says its surety network covers individuals through Fortune 1000 businesses and that bONdLINE supports transactional underwriting, issuance and reporting. Lockton describes itself as the broker representing surety clients, not the surety itself. For a buyer deciding who carries the bond risk, ask whether CNA is the proposed issuer or whether Lockton is arranging a placement with a market; a broker relationship and carrier underwriting are different roles in the transaction. 4 8
Financial analysis supporting a surety program
Lockton lists financial-statement and credit analysis, backlog review, peer benchmarking, project-profit trends and safety-record review as services for its clients. CNA’s reviewed claims emphasize product reach and transactional issuance rather than this advisory package. Those analyses may matter to a contractor building a continuing bond program, while they do not establish a particular capacity or rate. Ask Lockton what financials it will present and ask the CNA agent what underwriting evidence is required for your specific obligation. 4 8
What to Confirm in Surety Bonds Quotes
Review Scores
These averages can combine ratings for different products, locations, and customer groups, including approximate BBB grade conversions. Read each review for the sources, scope, and calculation.
CNA
Review Score
1 rated source
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.[1][5]
Read CNA reviewsLockton
Review Score
3 rated sources
Lockton’s reviews vary by office and entity. Local Google-derived ratings provide some service feedback, but no reliable firmwide verdict.[2][6][7][8]
Read Lockton reviewsOffering Details
CNA vs Lockton: Surety Bonds: documented features by provider
| Criteria | CNA Surety and Commercial Bonds | Lockton Surety Brokerage |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Confirm in your quote. | Lockton Surety brokers surety bonds and says it has become one of the largest surety brokers in the world, representing more than 2,000 clients across industries. Lockton is the broker facilitating the bond relationship, not the surety. 8Company-reported. Surety product page as read 2026-09-23. Client count and market-size claims are company-reported. |
| Issuing Insurer | Confirm in your quote. | The surety page does not name the surety companies Lockton places bonds with. 8Not publicly disclosed. Surety page checked 2026-09-23. |
| 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. 4Company-reported. 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. | Lockton says it represents clients across a wide range of industries and tailors its surety service model to each client rather than a single standard approach. 8Company-reported. Surety product page as read 2026-09-23. No named industries or minimum bond size were published. |
| Coverage Features | CNA Surety markets commercial and contract surety bonds in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. 4Company-reported. 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. |
| Risk Services | Confirm in your quote. | Lockton lists data-driven surety services it provides: financial statement analysis and credit rating, weighted backlog analysis, financial and rate peer comparisons and benchmarking, individual project and composite profit trend analysis, and detailed safety record review. 8Company-reported. Surety product page as read 2026-09-23. |
| How to Apply | CNA bONdLINE supports underwriting, issuance and reporting of transactional bonds. 4Company-reported. 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
More CNA vs Lockton Comparisons
Other Surety Bonds Comparisons
Sources
CNA
- Insurance for Small Businesses. 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.
- CNA Connect Small Businessowners Policy (BOP) | CNA Insurance. CNA; CNA Connect; coverages, product range, services. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- General Disclaimer. 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.
- CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance. CNA; Surety/fidelity product sections, geography, agents/brokers, bONdLINE and claims services. Accessed 2026-09-28.
Lockton
- Lockton United States. Lockton; Opening description of independent insurance brokerage for risk, benefits and retirement; Ask an Expert link to contact-us. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Technology. Lockton; Industry introduction; cyber liability heading; dedicated technology team; listed services including claims advocacy, contract review, directors and officers liability, and international program design; 24/7 service model. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- US Terms of Business. Lockton; Opening entity definition; Surplus Lines; Use of a Particular Insurer; Compensation Disclosure; servicing, claims handling and renewal language in Confidentiality section; Intermediaries. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Surety. Lockton; Disrupting surety brokerage since 1966; Consultative services; An unparalleled level of service; Data-driven solutions tools and services list. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Surety Bonds Guide
- Glossary of Insurance Terms. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Surety Bond; Fidelity. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- 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.
- 40 U.S. Code § 3131 — Bonds of contractors of public buildings or works. 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.
- Surety Bonds. Chubb; Construction Surety Bonds (performance, payment, maintenance); Commercial Surety Bonds (license and permit, court, commercial contract). Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Surety Bonds Insurance. 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.
