---
title: "CNA vs Marsh: Surety Bonds"
description: "CNA describes transactional bond processing and geographic reach; Marsh McLennan Agency details a specialist surety practice and advisory services."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-marsh/surety-bonds"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-30"
comparison-pair: "cna-vs-marsh"
provider-a: "cna"
provider-b: "marsh"
coverage-line: "surety-bonds"
---

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

## Agent Guide

**What this page is:** Focused comparison of CNA and Marsh 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 Marsh. 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 Marsh for Surety Bonds: how do they differ?
- Which is better for Surety Bonds, CNA or Marsh?
- What does CNA or Marsh publish about Surety Bonds (limits, eligibility, claims, add-ons)?
- What should I confirm in a quote for Surety Bonds from CNA or Marsh?

**Key facts:**
- Line: Surety Bonds. Providers: CNA and Marsh.
- 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 Marsh](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-marsh) — 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)
- [Marsh profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/marsh) — provider profile (evidence)
- [CNA vs Marsh Commercial Property Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-marsh/commercial-property) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [CNA vs Marsh Tech E&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-marsh/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 Marsh Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/baldwin-vs-marsh/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 Marsh Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-marsh/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 Marsh: How Do They Compare for Surety Bonds?

CNA describes transactional bond processing and geographic reach; Marsh McLennan Agency details a specialist surety practice and advisory services.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate CNA and Marsh 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 supports transactional underwriting and issuance through bONdLINE; Marsh McLennan Agency describes nationwide specialist placement, benchmarking and program-design support. [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance") [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk")

## 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 Marsh?

Marsh suits technology and larger businesses seeking specialist cyber placement or broad global risk advice; small firms wanting a quick standard quote should compare its MMA route or digital agencies. [5](https://www.marsh.com/en/home.html "Marsh | Leader in risk, strategy, people, and investments") [6](https://www.marsh.com/content/dam/marsh/Documents/PDF/US-en/us-client-compensation-guide.pdf "Compensation guide for US clients") [7](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/marsh-mclennan-agency.html "Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA)") [8](https://www.marsh.com/en/industries/technology.html "Technology | Insurance Broking & Risk Management")

[Marsh profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/marsh)

## 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. [10](https://content.naic.org/glossary-insurance-terms "Glossary of Insurance Terms") [11](https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/surety-bonds "Surety bonds") [12](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/40/3131 "40 U.S. Code § 3131 — Bonds of contractors of public buildings or works") [13](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/surety.html "Surety Bonds") [14](https://www.harperinsure.com/coverages/surety-bonds "Surety Bonds Insurance")

## Key Differences in Surety Bonds

### Transactional processing and specialist placement

CNA says bONdLINE supports underwriting, issuance and reporting of transactional bonds and that its surety operation spans the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA) describes an advisor-led relationship with a surety specialist rather than an online bond application. A small, defined obligation may fit a transactional workflow; a contractor building a broader program may value an adviser who can review the full submission. Confirm the specific type and whether either route can meet the obligee’s deadline. [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance") [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk")

### Program scale and advisory work

MMA reports more than 150 surety professionals across all 50 states and lists indemnity negotiation, benchmarking, joint-venture prequalification and program review. CNA’s reviewed record emphasizes its broad distribution and bONdLINE platform, not comparable advisory services. MMA’s scale figures are company-reported and do not guarantee capacity for a particular contractor. Ask MMA what specialist will handle the account and ask CNA’s agent whether the needed project bond is processed transactionally or requires a larger underwriting submission. [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance") [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk")

## What to Confirm in Surety Bonds Quotes

- Will CNA process this as a transactional bond, and what turnaround does the agent confirm? [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance")
- Which MMA surety specialist will handle the account and what indemnity package will be negotiated? [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | CNA Surety and Commercial Bonds | Marsh McLennan Agency Surety Bonds |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | Confirm in your quote. | Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA), Marsh's middle-market subsidiary, arranges surety bonds through a dedicated surety practice rather than underwriting them itself. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: MMA surety insurance page..) |
| Issuing Insurer | Confirm in your quote. | The reviewed page does not name a specific surety insurer for a standard bond; MMA says it offers national market representation, implying the issuing surety varies by placement. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: MMA surety insurance page as read on 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. [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. |
| 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..) | MMA offers Contract Surety for construction and similar projects, Commercial Surety issuing license and permit bonds nationwide (in lieu of or alongside letters of credit and other banking obligations), and International Surety for global operations facing varied regulatory requirements. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: MMA surety insurance page, Surety Coverage section..) |
| Limits and Retentions | Confirm in your quote. | MMA says it has more than 150 surety professionals across all 50 states, placed $353 million in surety premium for nearly 10,000 clients, and that its markets write 95% of all contract bonds in the U.S., according to the company. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: MMA surety insurance page; company-reported statistics, not independently verified, and do not indicate bond size or capacity for an individual client..) |
| Risk Services | Confirm in your quote. | MMA lists competitive indemnity package negotiation, industry benchmarking, joint-venture and teaming-agreement prequalification support, continuity and ownership-transfer consulting, and competitive program design review as services tied to its surety practice. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: MMA surety insurance page, Benefits of Surety and Surety Coverage sections..) |
| 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..) | You work with an MMA surety specialist directly; the page names a Surety Department Supervisor and describes advisor-led placement rather than an online bond application. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: MMA surety insurance page..) |

## Full Comparison

- [CNA vs Marsh](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-marsh): 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 Marsh Commercial Property Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-marsh/commercial-property)
- [CNA vs Marsh Tech E&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-marsh/technology-errors-omissions)
- [The Baldwin Group vs CNA Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/baldwin-vs-cna/surety-bonds)
- [The Baldwin Group vs Marsh Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/baldwin-vs-marsh/surety-bonds)
- [Chubb vs CNA Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-cna/surety-bonds)
- [Chubb vs Marsh Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-marsh/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.

### Marsh

5. [Marsh | Leader in risk, strategy, people, and investments](https://www.marsh.com/en/home.html). Marsh; Hero and capability tiles; FAQ: What does Marsh do?; industries served; Is Marsh the same as Marsh McLennan? January 2026 brand change. Accessed 2026-09-16.
6. [Compensation guide for US clients](https://www.marsh.com/content/dam/marsh/Documents/PDF/US-en/us-client-compensation-guide.pdf). Marsh; US broking segments; broker role; retail commissions, client fees, wholesale, insurer consulting, contingent and supplemental commissions; Marsh LLC and Marsh USA LLC; page 3: broker role and Marsh & McLennan Agency segment; page 7: copyright © 2024 Marsh LLC. Accessed 2026-09-16.
7. [Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA)](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/marsh-mclennan-agency.html). Marsh; Middle-market US organizations; wholly-owned subsidiary; business insurance, employee health and benefits, retirement, private client. Accessed 2026-09-16.
8. [Technology | Insurance Broking & Risk Management](https://www.marsh.com/en/industries/technology.html). Marsh; Opening Technology Practice description; practice links including data center insurance, fintech and Stratus; Talk to us. Accessed 2026-09-16.
9. [Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html). Marsh McLennan Agency; Opening positioning and stats (150+ surety professionals across all 50 states; $353 million in surety premium for nearly 10,000 clients; 95% of all contract bonds in the U.S. written in our markets); Surety Coverage: Contract Surety, Commercial Surety, Joint ventures and teaming agreements, International Surety; Benefits of Surety. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Surety Bonds Guide

10. [Glossary of Insurance Terms](https://content.naic.org/glossary-insurance-terms). National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Surety Bond; Fidelity. Accessed 2026-09-16.
11. [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.
12. [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.
13. [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.
14. [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).

## Marsh Reviews

Review Score: 5.8 / 10 from 2 rated sources, equally weighted.

Marsh’s global Trustpilot profile has a poor 1.3/5 score. Treat it as a service warning to investigate with your proposed team; it does not isolate US commercial accounts.

- Trustpilot: TrustScore 1.3 (0–5 stars); 115 reviews. Global brand profile across products/countries, not U.S. commercial-only. Period: 35 reviews in prior 12 months. Checked 2026-09-25. [Marsh Reviews | Trustpilot](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.marsh.com)
- Buzdy (Google review aggregation): Google reviews shown by Buzdy 4.5 (0–5 stars); 4 reviews. Named Marsh (Hong Kong) Limited office in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong. Buzdy states ratings/counts are powered by Google. Foreign local office only; not the U.S. Marsh brokerage or a firmwide score. Period: Listing verification 2026-07-29; accessed 2026-09-25. Checked 2026-09-25. [Marsh (Hong Kong) Limited | Buzdy](https://buzdy.com/viewMerchant/marsh-hong-kong-limited-hong-kong)

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

## Agent and Developer Resources

- [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-marsh/surety-bonds.md)
- [Developer resources](https://spot.insure/developers)
- [Public MCP server](https://spot.insure/mcp)
- [MCP server manifest](https://spot.insure/server.json)
- [OpenAPI description](https://spot.insure/openapi.json)
- [Public page index](https://spot.insure/llms.txt)