---
title: "CNA vs USI Insurance Services: Surety Bonds"
description: "CNA describes transactional bond processing; USI brokers surety programs and helps contractors prepare financial submissions for surety markets."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-usi/surety-bonds"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-30"
comparison-pair: "cna-vs-usi"
provider-a: "cna"
provider-b: "usi"
coverage-line: "surety-bonds"
---

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

## Agent Guide

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

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

CNA describes transactional bond processing; USI brokers surety programs and helps contractors prepare financial submissions for surety markets.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate CNA and USI Insurance Services 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 names bONdLINE for transactional bonds and broad company-size reach; USI describes negotiated capacity, construction programs and a proprietary underwriting submission process. [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance") [8](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/surety-bond/ "Surety Bond-Contract, Commercial and International 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 USI Insurance Services?

USI suits software and hardware companies from seed stage through IPO seeking consultative broker support; buyers wanting a self-serve quote should compare digital agencies. Insurer commissions are typical and contingent compensation may also apply. [5](https://www.usi.com/about-usi "The Power of ONE") [6](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/technology/ "Technology Insurance") [7](https://www.usi.com/commissions-fees/ "Commissions and Fees")

[USI Insurance Services profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/usi)

## 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

### Transactional system versus broker market presentation

CNA says bONdLINE supports transactional-bond underwriting, issuance and reporting, while its network serves businesses from individuals to Fortune 1000 companies. USI says it brokers bonds rather than acting as surety, negotiating capacity and terms with underwriters on a client’s behalf. A one-off transactional obligation may fit the CNA platform; a contractor building capacity across projects may use USI to present its financials to multiple surety markets. Confirm the proposed issuer and indemnity either way. [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance") [8](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/surety-bond/ "Surety Bond-Contract, Commercial and International Surety Bonds")

### Construction program guidance

USI lists bid, performance and payment bonds, commercial surety and financial obligations, plus subcontractor default insurance; its process packages a client’s operating and underwriting information with analysis and recommendations. CNA describes commercial and contract surety and a transactional system but not this submission advisory. Construction applicants should ask USI what financial statements and backlog information it will present, while CNA’s agent can confirm what the specific transactional bond requires. [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance") [8](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/surety-bond/ "Surety Bond-Contract, Commercial and International Surety Bonds")

## What to Confirm in Surety Bonds Quotes

- Is the CNA bond processed transactionally, and what obligations or indemnity does its surety require? [4](https://www.cna.com/products/cna-surety "CNA Surety - Surety and Fidelity Bonds | CNA Insurance")
- Which surety markets will USI approach, and how will it present your financial and project information? [8](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/surety-bond/ "Surety Bond-Contract, Commercial and International Surety Bonds")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | CNA Surety and Commercial Bonds | USI Surety Bond — Contract, Commercial and International Surety |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | Confirm in your quote. | USI is a surety bond broker, not a surety. It says it is one of the leading domestic and international surety brokers and negotiates bonding capacity and terms with surety underwriters on a client's behalf. [8](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/surety-bond/ "Surety Bond-Contract, Commercial and International Surety Bonds") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Surety Bond practice page..) |
| Issuing Insurer | Confirm in your quote. | USI does not name surety companies on its practice page; it describes placing bonds through its surety-market relationships rather than a fixed panel. [8](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/surety-bond/ "Surety Bond-Contract, Commercial and International Surety Bonds") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: 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..) | USI says its surety practice has a long history serving general contractors, trade contractors, highway/heavy construction projects, construction managers, developers and design-builders in the public and private sectors, and that its surety network also has experience outside construction. [8](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/surety-bond/ "Surety Bond-Contract, Commercial and International Surety Bonds") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Company description of client base..) |
| 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..) | USI lists bid bonds, performance and payment bonds (domestic and international), established surety programs, commercial surety and financial obligations, and subcontractor default insurance among its construction and surety products. [8](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/surety-bond/ "Surety Bond-Contract, Commercial and International Surety Bonds") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Practice page product list; actual bond forms and terms are set by the surety and obligee..) |
| Limits and Retentions | Confirm in your quote. | USI does not publish standard bonding-capacity figures; it cites individual case studies (a general contractor's bonding limits supporting a $10,000,000 revenue increase, and a mechanical contractor whose surety line supported $110,000,000 in revenue) rather than a general limit range. [8](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/surety-bond/ "Surety Bond-Contract, Commercial and International Surety Bonds") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Case-study figures on the page are specific to those named accounts, not a published capacity table..) |
| Risk Services | Confirm in your quote. | USI describes a proprietary bond submission process that summarizes a client's underwriting and operational information alongside its own analysis and recommendations, and says its surety professionals help clients present their financials to the surety market and negotiate terms. [8](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/surety-bond/ "Surety Bond-Contract, Commercial and International Surety Bonds") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Company description of its submission methodology..) |
| 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..) | USI directs contractors and other prospective surety clients to email pcinquiries@usi.com or contact a local USI office. [8](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/surety-bond/ "Surety Bond-Contract, Commercial and International Surety Bonds") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Contact instructions on the Surety Bond practice page..) |

## Full Comparison

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

### USI Insurance Services

5. [The Power of ONE](https://www.usi.com/about-usi). USI Insurance Services; History, client-count, nationwide office, and P&C / benefits / personal risk / retirement description. Accessed 2026-09-16.
6. [Technology Insurance](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/technology/). USI Insurance Services; Technology practice client types, seed-to-IPO range, and listed insurance placement lines including PrivaSafe. Accessed 2026-09-16.
7. [Commissions and Fees](https://www.usi.com/commissions-fees/). USI Insurance Services; Licensed-producer authority, insurer-paid commission default, contingent compensation, and client request right. Accessed 2026-09-16.
8. [Surety Bond-Contract, Commercial and International Surety Bonds](https://www.usi.com/property-casualty/surety-bond/). USI Insurance Services; USI's Surety team provides a full suite of surety bond services...Contract, Commercial and International Surety solutions; long history...providing substantial surety credit in the construction industry; USI's proprietary bond submission process; USI's construction and surety products include: Bid Bonds, Performance & Payment Bonds..., Establish Surety Programs, Commercial Surety and Financial Obligations, Subcontractor Default Insurance (SDI); CASE STUDY: 50% Revenue Increase; CASE STUDY: $110,000,000 in Revenues. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### 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).

## USI Insurance Services Reviews

Review Score: 6.4 / 10 from 1 rated source, equally weighted.

USI’s public feedback is too sparse and office-specific for a firmwide verdict. Check the local team’s responsiveness and experience with your type of business.

- BBB: BBB complaint count 4. BBB business-profile grade is distinct from customer-review stars; branch/parent scope matters. Period: three years preceding access 2026-09-25. Checked 2026-09-25. [BBB result for USI Insurance Services](https://www.bbb.org/us/ny/valhalla/profile/insurance-agency/usi-insurance-services-0121-97856/complaints)
- Google reviews via Birdeye: Birdeye office listing rating from Google reviews 3.2 (5 stars); 9 reviews. One Louisville office listing, not firmwide. Birdeye shows Google-origin reviews (9) and 0 Birdeye-native reviews; this duplicates a Google source stream and is not independent of Google. Period: accessed 2026-09-25. Checked 2026-09-25. [USI office, Louisville, KY — Birdeye listing of Google reviews](https://reviews.birdeye.com/usi-insurance-145632496752867)

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

## Agent and Developer Resources

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