---
title: "CNA vs Nationwide: Surety Bonds"
description: "CNA describes transactional issuance and North American bond reach; Nationwide directs buyers to an agent or quote request for commercial surety."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-nationwide/surety-bonds"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-30"
comparison-pair: "cna-vs-nationwide"
provider-a: "cna"
provider-b: "nationwide"
coverage-line: "surety-bonds"
---

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

## Agent Guide

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

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

CNA describes transactional issuance and North American bond reach; Nationwide directs buyers to an agent or quote request for commercial surety.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate CNA and Nationwide 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 documents commercial and contract bonds with a transactional issuance platform; Nationwide describes commercial surety for businesses and principals through an agent or quote request. [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance") [8](https://www.nationwide.com/business/insurance/bonds/ "Commercial Surety Bonds")

## 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 Nationwide?

Nationwide’s commercial catalogue includes common small-business policies and separate specialty products. A catalogue listing does not establish eligibility or policy terms; confirm the issuing company and coverage for your state and business. [5](https://www.nationwide.com/business/insurance/small-commercial/ "Small Business Insurance") [6](https://www.nationwide.com/agents/business/ "Small Business Insurance Solutions for Agents") [7](https://www.nationwide.com/personal/about-us/terms-conditions "Terms and Conditions for Nationwide.com")

[Nationwide profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/nationwide)

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

## Key Differences in Surety Bonds

### A named transaction system and a quote contact

CNA says its bONdLINE system supports transactional bond underwriting, issuance and reporting, and markets commercial and contract surety across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Nationwide’s reviewed page describes commercial bonds and directs prospective buyers to contact an agent or request a quote. CNA therefore documents a specific transaction platform, while Nationwide’s route begins with a contact. Ask both whether your exact form is handled online or through an underwriter. [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance") [8](https://www.nationwide.com/business/insurance/bonds/ "Commercial Surety Bonds")

### What the product descriptions establish

Nationwide describes commercial bonds as guarantees of a principal’s financial responsibility or compliance with stated obligations, with form and underwriting depending on the applicant and obligation. CNA’s record identifies commercial and contract surety but does not supply a matching general definition. The key decision is the obligee’s particular obligation, not the broad commercial label. Provide both providers the written bond requirement and ask which entity will issue it, what indemnity is required and what confirms binding. [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance") [8](https://www.nationwide.com/business/insurance/bonds/ "Commercial Surety Bonds")

## What to Confirm in Surety Bonds Quotes

- Can CNA bONdLINE process the required form, amount and jurisdiction? [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance")
- Which Nationwide agent and surety entity will confirm the exact obligation and binding status? [8](https://www.nationwide.com/business/insurance/bonds/ "Commercial Surety Bonds")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | CNA Surety and Commercial Bonds | Nationwide surety bonds (official overview) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | Confirm in your quote. | Nationwide describes offering surety bonds for the audience stated on the cited product page. [8](https://www.nationwide.com/business/insurance/bonds/ "Commercial Surety Bonds") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: surety bonds marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement..) |
| 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..) | Businesses and principals seeking commercial bonds; bond form and underwriting depend on obligation and applicant. [8](https://www.nationwide.com/business/insurance/bonds/ "Commercial Surety Bonds") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: surety bonds marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement..) |
| 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..) | The cited product page describes commercial surety bonds that guarantee a bonded principal's financial responsibility or compliance with stated obligations. Marketing description only; actual coverage, exclusions, conditions, limits, and availability depend on the issued policy and jurisdiction. [8](https://www.nationwide.com/business/insurance/bonds/ "Commercial Surety Bonds") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: surety bonds marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement..) |
| Limits and Retentions | Confirm in your quote. | The cited overview does not set a universal limit or retention for this line. Ask for the proposed policy form, limits, retentions, exclusions, and conditions in the quote. [8](https://www.nationwide.com/business/insurance/bonds/ "Commercial Surety Bonds") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Only the cited marketing page was reviewed for published limit and retention information; no policy-form entitlement is inferred..) |
| 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..) | The page directs prospective customers to contact an agent or request a quote. The page does not establish a quote, bind, or coverage-effective timeline. [8](https://www.nationwide.com/business/insurance/bonds/ "Commercial Surety Bonds") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: surety bonds marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement..) |

## Full Comparison

- [CNA vs Nationwide](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-nationwide): 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 Nationwide Commercial Auto Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-nationwide/commercial-auto)
- [CNA vs Nationwide Commercial Property Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-nationwide/commercial-property)
- [The Baldwin Group vs CNA Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/baldwin-vs-cna/surety-bonds)
- [The Baldwin Group vs Nationwide Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/baldwin-vs-nationwide/surety-bonds)
- [Chubb vs CNA Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-cna/surety-bonds)
- [Chubb vs Nationwide Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-nationwide/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.

### Nationwide

5. [Small Business Insurance](https://www.nationwide.com/business/insurance/small-commercial/). Nationwide; Small business products and solutions, lines 185–214: BOP, workers’ compensation, commercial auto, umbrella, EPLI, cyber and surety; purchase guidance lines 235–247.. Accessed 2026-09-29.
6. [Small Business Insurance Solutions for Agents](https://www.nationwide.com/agents/business/). Nationwide; Specialized small commercial solutions: BOP, auto, workers’ compensation, cyber, EPLI, umbrella, inland marine and professional liability; page states appetite varies by state, lines 129–163, 191–193.. Accessed 2026-09-29.
7. [Terms and Conditions for Nationwide.com](https://www.nationwide.com/personal/about-us/terms-conditions). Nationwide; P&C products not offered by all companies/states; policy/declarations control; NMI and affiliates may underwrite; each underwriter responsible for own products, lines 358–368 and 391–394.. Accessed 2026-09-29.
8. [Commercial Surety Bonds](https://www.nationwide.com/business/insurance/bonds/). Nationwide; Commercial surety bond page; bond types and obligations.. Accessed 2026-09-30.

### Surety Bonds Guide

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

## Nationwide Reviews

Review Score: 7.8 / 10 from 4 rated sources, equally weighted.

Experts like Nationwide more than customers do. NerdWallet gives it 4.5 out of 5 for business insurance, while small-business customers on ConsumerAffairs give it 2.5 out of 5 from 19 reviews.

- NerdWallet: NerdWallet rating 4.5 (out of 5). NerdWallet's editorial small-business review of Nationwide, updated 2026-06-03. It is an expert score, not a customer average. The page header shows 4.5 and a partner card on the same page shows 4.0; the 4.5 is the review's own headline rating. Period: review updated 2026-06-03. Checked 2026-09-29. [Nationwide Business Insurance Review 2026](https://www.nerdwallet.com/business/insurance/learn/nationwide-business-insurance)
- J.D. Power: 2025 Small Commercial satisfaction index 707 (out of 1,000); 2848 reviews. 2025 U.S. Small Commercial Insurance Study: 2,848 U.S. businesses with 50 or fewer employees, fielded Mar-May 2025. Nationwide scored 707 against a study average of 698. A 2026 study was published 2026-08-20 (average 713); Nationwide's 2026 score was not found. Period: 2025 study. Checked 2026-09-29. [2025 U.S. Small Commercial Insurance Study](https://www.jdpower.com/sites/default/files/file/2025-08/2025092%20U.S.%20Small%20Commercial%20Insurance%20Study.pdf); [U.S. Small Commercial Insurance Study](https://www.jdpower.com/business/u-s-small-commercial-insurance-study/); [Rates, Digital Support Boost Small Business Insurance Customer Satisfaction: JD Power](https://www.carriermanagement.com/news/2026/08/20/291242.htm)
- Trustpilot: TrustScore 1.3 (out of 5); 261 reviews. Nationwide's main Trustpilot page. It mixes personal and commercial customers; it cannot be separated. The page text says 1.3 out of 5 while an embedded badge image text said 1.5; we use the visible text score. Period: 69 reviews in the prior 12 months (checked 2026-09-29). Checked 2026-09-29. [Nationwide Reviews](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/nationwide.com)
- ConsumerAffairs: ConsumerAffairs auto average 1.5 (out of 5); 1091 reviews. ConsumerAffairs Nationwide personal auto page (1,091 reviews displayed). Personal auto, not commercial. Period: checked 2026-09-29. Checked 2026-09-29. [Nationwide Auto Insurance Reviews](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/insurance/nationwide_auto.html)
- ConsumerAffairs: ConsumerAffairs rating 2.5 (out of 5); 19 reviews. ConsumerAffairs Nationwide Small Business Insurance page; unclaimed profile; small-business customers. Screenshot captured 2026-09-29. Period: page updated Aug. 14, 2026; captured 2026-09-29. Checked 2026-09-29. [Nationwide Small Business Insurance Reviews](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/insurance/nationwide-small-business-insurance.html)
- BBB: BBB business grade A+. BBB Nationwide profile at the Columbus, Ohio headquarters (BBB Accredited). Covers all Nationwide products, not just commercial. Checked 2026-09-29. [Nationwide BBB Complaints Profile](https://www.bbb.org/us/oh/columbus/profile/insurance-companies/nationwide-0302-2388/complaints)
- BBB: Complaints 111. Same BBB headquarters profile; all Nationwide products, no premium denominator. BBB warns complaint details may be incomplete. The page also shows 269 customer reviews but no star average. Period: closed in the last three years (checked 2026-09-29). Checked 2026-09-29. [Nationwide BBB customer reviews](https://www.bbb.org/us/oh/columbus/profile/insurance-companies/nationwide-0302-2388/customer-reviews)

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

## Agent and Developer Resources

- [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-nationwide/surety-bonds.md)
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- [Public MCP server](https://spot.insure/mcp)
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