---
title: "CNA vs Travelers: Surety Bonds"
description: "CNA describes agent-distributed surety with transactional processing; Travelers underwrites commercial and contract bonds directly."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-travelers/surety-bonds"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-30"
comparison-pair: "cna-vs-travelers"
provider-a: "cna"
provider-b: "travelers"
coverage-line: "surety-bonds"
---

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

## Agent Guide

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

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

CNA describes agent-distributed surety with transactional processing; Travelers underwrites commercial and contract bonds directly.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate CNA and Travelers 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 bond issuance through bONdLINE and serves varied business sizes; Travelers names broad commercial and construction bond categories and agent access. [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance") [8](https://www.travelers.com/surety-bond "Surety Bond")

## 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 Travelers Insurance?

Travelers suits technology companies that want CyberRisk Tech and can work through an independent agent; buyers seeking a direct online technology quote should compare digital providers. Many small accounts can be quoted in agent platforms, while specialty risks need underwriting. [5](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/technology "Technology Insurance") [6](https://www.travelers.com/about-travelers/producer-compensation-disclosure "Travelers Producer Compensation Disclosure (United States)") [7](https://www.travelers.com/contact-us "Contact Us")

[Travelers profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/travelers)

## 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

### Direct underwriting and transactional access

Travelers says it underwrites commercial and contract surety directly, while CNA describes its surety distribution through agents and brokers and supports transactional processing through bONdLINE. CNA’s wording does not make its distribution role the same as a broker’s: the relevant issue is which surety company appears on the bond. Ask both contacts whether they are offering their own paper or arranging another market, and who approves the indemnity. [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance") [8](https://www.travelers.com/surety-bond "Surety Bond")

### Construction and commercial bond categories

Travelers lists bid, performance and payment bonds along with court, customs, ERISA, license, utility and many other forms; its commercial practice serves individuals through multinational businesses. CNA’s claims describe commercial and contract bonds across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico and reach from individuals to Fortune 1000 companies, without the same detailed list. Give each the obligee’s exact form to confirm product fit, particularly for specialized court or regulatory obligations. [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance") [8](https://www.travelers.com/surety-bond "Surety Bond")

## What to Confirm in Surety Bonds Quotes

- Will CNA be the issuing surety, and can bONdLINE process this exact category? [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance")
- Which Travelers underwriting practice and bond form match the obligation, and what agent submits it? [8](https://www.travelers.com/surety-bond "Surety Bond")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | CNA Surety and Commercial Bonds | Travelers Surety Bonds |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | Confirm in your quote. | Travelers underwrites surety bonds directly through two practices, commercial surety and contract surety, rather than only brokering bonds written by other sureties. [8](https://www.travelers.com/surety-bond "Surety Bond") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Surety-bond product page, as read on 2026-09-23..) |
| Issuing Insurer | Confirm in your quote. | The reviewed surety-bond page does not name the specific underwriting entity for a bond; Travelers' related professional-liability pages attribute management and professional liability products to Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America and its property-casualty affiliates, but that page does not cover surety. [8](https://www.travelers.com/surety-bond "Surety Bond") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Surety-bond page as read on 2026-09-23; the entity named elsewhere is not confirmed as the surety issuer..) |
| 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..) | Travelers says commercial surety serves both individuals and businesses ranging from small companies to multinational companies, while contract surety is supported by underwriters focused on construction industry risk. [8](https://www.travelers.com/surety-bond "Surety Bond") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Commercial surety and contract surety descriptions on the surety-bond 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..) | Travelers lists bond types including bid, performance and payment bonds, construction materials supply bonds, court bonds (judicial, fiduciary and probate), custom bonds, depository bonds, ERISA fidelity bonds, license and permit bonds, lost instrument bonds, miscellaneous bonds, notary public bonds, official bonds, release of lien bonds and utility bonds. [8](https://www.travelers.com/surety-bond "Surety Bond") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Bond-type list on the surety-bond page; a given bond type's terms and availability are underwriting-specific..) |
| Limits and Retentions | Confirm in your quote. | The reviewed surety-bond page does not publish bond-amount limits, premium rates or underwriting capacity figures. [8](https://www.travelers.com/surety-bond "Surety Bond") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Surety-bond page as read on 2026-09-23..) |
| 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..) | Travelers directs buyers to find an insurance agent to obtain a surety bond, and separately tells agents that surety bond application forms are in its agent forms library alongside management and professional liability applications. [8](https://www.travelers.com/surety-bond "Surety Bond") [9](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/errors-omissions "Errors and Omissions Insurance (E&O)") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Surety-bond page CTA and the E&O page's agent-forms link..) |

## Full Comparison

- [CNA vs Travelers](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-travelers): 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 Travelers Commercial Auto Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-travelers/commercial-auto)
- [CNA vs Travelers Commercial Property Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-travelers/commercial-property)
- [CNA vs Travelers Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-travelers/cyber)
- [CNA vs Travelers Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-travelers/professional-errors-omissions)
- [CNA vs Travelers Tech E&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-travelers/technology-errors-omissions)
- [The Baldwin Group vs CNA Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/baldwin-vs-cna/surety-bonds)
- [The Baldwin Group vs Travelers Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/baldwin-vs-travelers/surety-bonds)
- [Chubb vs CNA Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-cna/surety-bonds)
- [Chubb vs Travelers Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-travelers/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.

### Travelers

5. [Technology Insurance](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/technology). Travelers; Technology insurance products we offer: CyberRisk Tech, Global Companion Plus+, general liability, commercial property, workers compensation, commercial auto, umbrella; startup-to-established-leader audience. Accessed 2026-09-16.
6. [Travelers Producer Compensation Disclosure (United States)](https://www.travelers.com/about-travelers/producer-compensation-disclosure). Travelers; Independent producers; seven compensation types; Simply Business, Inc. and InsuraMatch, LLC ownership; The Travelers Indemnity Company footer; Northfield Excess & Surplus Lines product list. Accessed 2026-09-16.
7. [Contact Us](https://www.travelers.com/contact-us). Travelers; Business insurance sold through independent agents; business claims 1.800.238.6225; MyTravelers for business features. Accessed 2026-09-16.
8. [Surety Bond](https://www.travelers.com/surety-bond). Travelers; Surety bonds provided by Travelers: bid, performance and payment, construction materials supply, court, custom, depository, ERISA fidelity, license and permit, lost instrument, miscellaneous, notary public, official, release of lien, utilities; Commercial surety; Contract surety. Accessed 2026-09-23.
9. [Errors and Omissions Insurance (E&O)](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/errors-omissions). Travelers; Applications and forms for agents: surety bond forms library. 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).

## Travelers Reviews

Review Score: 4.8 / 10 from 3 rated sources, equally weighted.

Travelers earns 4.5/5 from NerdWallet, but customer feedback is poor: 1.4/5 on Trustpilot and 1.3/5 for homeowners on ConsumerAffairs. Those reviews mostly concern personal insurance.

- NerdWallet: NerdWallet editorial rating 4.5 (5 stars). Editorial commercial-insurance assessment; methodology and scope belong to publisher. Period: 2026 review; accessed 2026-09-25. Checked 2026-09-25. [NerdWallet result for Travelers](https://www.nerdwallet.com/business/insurance/learn/travelers-business-insurance)
- Trustpilot: Trustpilot TrustScore 1.4 (5 stars); 144 reviews. Self-selected consumer aggregate; product and business/personal scope may be mixed. Period: accessed 2026-09-25. Checked 2026-09-25. [Trustpilot result for Travelers](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/travelers.com)
- ConsumerAffairs: ConsumerAffairs homeowners consumer rating 1.3 (5 stars); 331 reviews. Self-selected consumer aggregate; product and business/personal scope may be mixed. Period: updated 2026-09-21; accessed 2026-09-25. Checked 2026-09-25. [ConsumerAffairs result for Travelers](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/insurance/travelers.html)

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

## Agent and Developer Resources

- [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-travelers/surety-bonds.md)
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