---
title: "Cowbell vs Embroker Crime Insurance"
description: "Cowbell’s Zurich Select Plus crime module is wholesaler-only; Embroker sells standalone crime or a BOP/D&O endorsement and lists named exclusions."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-embroker/crime"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-24"
---

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[Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-embroker/crime)

# Cowbell vs Embroker Crime Insurance

Cowbell’s Zurich Select Plus crime module is wholesaler-only; Embroker sells standalone crime or a BOP/D&O endorsement and lists named exclusions.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Cowbell and Embroker for Crime Insurance 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

Cowbell distributes Zurich’s Select Plus crime module on Zurich admitted paper, sold only to appointed E&S wholesalers through Cowbell’s API for private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets. Embroker sells commercial crime as a standalone policy or as a BOP or D&O endorsement and publishes a list of exclusions including income loss and executive-employee collusion. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [8](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/commercial-crime-insurance/ "Commercial Crime Insurance: Coverage & Policies")

## What Is Cowbell Insurance?

Cowbell is a specialty-insurance platform and agency focused on cyber risk for small and midsize businesses. Its U.S. catalogue also includes combined Technology E&O and cyber products and a Zurich management-liability offering distributed through appointed wholesalers. [1](https://cowbell.insure/ "Cowbell") [2](https://cowbell.insure/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/CB-US-PrimeTech-Overview-1.pdf "Prime Tech Product Overview") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus")

[Cowbell profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/cowbell)

## What Is Embroker?

Embroker is a business insurance broker and online platform serving startups, technology companies and professional-services firms, with proprietary programs and broker-assisted placements. [5](https://www.embroker.com/ "Embroker") [6](https://www.embroker.com/terms/ "Terms And Conditions") [7](https://access.embroker.com/ "Embroker Access")

[Embroker profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/embroker)

## What Is Crime Insurance?

Crime insurance addresses business losses from specified theft and fraud risks, such as robbery, forgery and embezzlement. [9](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/09-comm/commercialguide.cfm "Commercial Insurance Guide")

## Key Differences in Crime Insurance

### How Crime Is Packaged

Cowbell’s crime coverage is a module in Zurich’s Select Plus management-liability product: Cowbell operates the platform and Zurich underwrites the module. Embroker sells commercial crime as a standalone policy and says smaller businesses sometimes add it as an endorsement to a BOP or a directors and officers policy. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") [8](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/commercial-crime-insurance/ "Commercial Crime Insurance: Coverage & Policies")

### How You Obtain a Quote

Cowbell’s module is accessed only by appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers through the Cowbell platform’s API; it is not sold directly to businesses. Embroker’s reviewed crime page directs buyers to a general Get a Quote link rather than a dedicated online crime flow. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [8](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/commercial-crime-insurance/ "Commercial Crime Insurance: Coverage & Policies")

### Coverage Descriptions

Cowbell describes crime as protecting against theft, fraud and embezzlement by employees or third parties. Embroker lists employee theft (including shoplifting, embezzlement and larceny), third-party theft, forgery, digital fraud, money laundering, counterfeit currency and social-engineering fraud, then names exclusions: [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [8](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/commercial-crime-insurance/ "Commercial Crime Insurance: Coverage & Policies")


Embroker says the policy excludes loss of income, indirect losses, crimes committed by executives or partners in coordination with employees, third-party liabilities from crime losses, and cybercrime losses involving stolen patents, trade secrets or customer lists. [8](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/commercial-crime-insurance/ "Commercial Crime Insurance: Coverage & Policies") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page What's not included section..)

## What to Confirm in Crime Insurance Quotes

- Confirm an appointed Zurich E&S wholesaler if you want the Cowbell module. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")
- Ask Embroker whether the quote is standalone crime, a BOP or D&O endorsement, or a fidelity bond. [8](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/commercial-crime-insurance/ "Commercial Crime Insurance: Coverage & Policies")
- Check headcount and assets against Cowbell’s under-250-employee and under-$50-million-asset target. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")
- Match Embroker’s income-loss and collusion exclusions to the bound forms. [8](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/commercial-crime-insurance/ "Commercial Crime Insurance: Coverage & Policies") [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Crime Coverage | Embroker Commercial Crime Insurance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | Crime coverage is one module within Cowbell's distribution of Zurich's Select Plus management liability product; Cowbell operates the platform, Zurich underwrites the module. Zurich's own page lists 'Crime Insurance' as one of the four modules a buyer can combine. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Management liability page intro and module list; Zurich page module-name section..) | Embroker sells commercial crime as a standalone policy and says smaller businesses sometimes add crime coverage as an endorsement to a BOP or a directors and officers policy instead. [8](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/commercial-crime-insurance/ "Commercial Crime Insurance: Coverage & Policies") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page description; not a statement about the issuing insurer..) |
| Issuing Insurer | Cowbell and Zurich both say the Select Plus modules, including crime, are written on Zurich admitted paper. Zurich's site footer names 'Zurich American Insurance Company' in its copyright notice, but neither page states that entity is the specific policy issuer for this module. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Management liability page intro; Zurich page intro and footer..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| Who It’s For | Cowbell targets this crime module at private companies with under 250 employees and under $50M in assets, across the same target industries listed for the broader Select Plus product. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'What size accounts are targeted?' and Target industries list..) | Embroker points to businesses that hire part-time staff, handle cash transactions, manage inventory or expensive equipment, or handle customer data and digital transactions as more exposed and more likely to need the coverage. [8](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/commercial-crime-insurance/ "Commercial Crime Insurance: Coverage & Policies") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page 'Who benefits most' section; not a formal underwriting appetite statement..) |
| Coverage Features | Cowbell describes crime coverage as protecting against losses resulting from criminal acts such as theft, fraud, and embezzlement committed by employees or third parties. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?'..) | Embroker lists coverage for employee theft (including shoplifting, embezzlement and larceny), third-party theft, forgery, digital fraud, money laundering, counterfeit currency and social engineering fraud. [8](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/commercial-crime-insurance/ "Commercial Crime Insurance: Coverage & Policies") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page What's covered section; the issued policy and declarations control..)<br><br>Embroker says the policy excludes loss of income, indirect losses, crimes committed by executives or partners in coordination with employees, third-party liabilities from crime losses, and cybercrime losses involving stolen patents, trade secrets or customer lists. [8](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/commercial-crime-insurance/ "Commercial Crime Insurance: Coverage & Policies") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page What's not included section..)<br><br>Embroker distinguishes fidelity bonds from crime insurance: it says a crime policy typically carries higher limits, while a fidelity bond can reimburse customers who suffer crime-related damages. [8](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/commercial-crime-insurance/ "Commercial Crime Insurance: Coverage & Policies") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page FAQ comparing fidelity bonds and commercial crime insurance..) |
| Limits and Retentions | Neither the Cowbell page nor Zurich's own Select Plus page, both read in full, publishes crime-coverage limit or retention amounts. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Cowbell page and Zurich page, both read on 2026-09-23..) | Embroker says crime insurance pricing depends on factors like employee count and locations, revenue, office security measures and financial controls, and that fidelity bonds typically cost 0.5% to 2% of the bond value; it does not publish standard policy limits. [8](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/commercial-crime-insurance/ "Commercial Crime Insurance: Coverage & Policies") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page 'What does Commercial Crime insurance cost?' section..) |
| Risk Services | Neither reviewed page describes crime-specific risk-control services such as employee-dishonesty prevention programs; both describe the Select Plus product's claims backing only at the whole-product level. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [3](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability "Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Management liability page and Zurich page, both read on 2026-09-23..) | Not described in the reviewed sources. |
| How to Apply | This crime module is accessed only by appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers through the Cowbell platform's API; it is not sold directly to businesses. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: FAQ 'How can I access the Zurich Select Plus management liability product through Cowbell?'..) | The reviewed crime page does not describe a dedicated online quote flow for crime insurance the way Embroker's BOP and general liability pages do; it directs buyers to a general 'Get a Quote' link. [8](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/commercial-crime-insurance/ "Commercial Crime Insurance: Coverage & Policies") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Product page as read on 2026-09-23..) |

## Full Comparison

- [Cowbell vs Embroker](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-embroker): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Is Crime Insurance?](https://spot.insure/coverage/crime): Crime insurance can help recover business losses from specified theft and fraud, including employee theft, forgery and payment fraud.
- [Cowbell vs Embroker Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-embroker/cyber)
- [Cowbell vs Embroker D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-embroker/directors-officers)
- [Cowbell vs Embroker Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-embroker/employment-practices)
- [Cowbell vs Embroker Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-embroker/fiduciary)
- [Cowbell vs Embroker Management Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-embroker/management-liability)
- [Cowbell vs Embroker Tech E&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-embroker/technology-errors-omissions)
- [Alliance Risk vs Cowbell Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-cowbell/crime)
- [Alliance Risk vs Embroker Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-embroker/crime)
- [Beazley vs Cowbell Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-cowbell/crime)
- [Beazley vs Embroker Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-embroker/crime)
- [CFC vs Cowbell Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-cowbell/crime)
- [CFC vs Embroker Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-embroker/crime)

## Sources

### Cowbell

1. [Cowbell](https://cowbell.insure/). Cowbell; What We Do; Assess, Insure, Respond and Improve; U.S. navigation; footer legal disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-15.
2. [Prime Tech Product Overview](https://cowbell.insure/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/CB-US-PrimeTech-Overview-1.pdf). Cowbell; PDF pp. 1–4: non-admitted combined Technology E&O and cyber for technology businesses up to $1 billion; up to $5 million; surplus lines in 50 states; edition PRIME TECH US0001 1025. Accessed 2026-09-16.
3. [Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/excess-and-surplus/small-business-management-liability). Zurich North America; Intro on the Zurich/Cowbell collaboration; module name 'Crime Insurance'; FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?' (identical to Cowbell's page); Targeted industries list; footer copyright. Accessed 2026-09-23.
4. [Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/). Cowbell; FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?' (Crime Coverage definition); Target industries list; FAQ on access and account size. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Embroker

5. [Embroker](https://www.embroker.com/). Embroker; Industry navigation; quote and sign-in links; coverage options; footer availability qualification. Accessed 2026-09-15.
6. [Terms And Conditions](https://www.embroker.com/terms/). Embroker; Introduction; §§2A–B Insurance services, 13 Applications and quotes, 15 Insurance companies and underwriting guidelines, 16 Certificates, 21 Surplus lines products, 22 Payments. Accessed 2026-09-15.
7. [Embroker Access](https://access.embroker.com/). Embroker; EMIS announcement; appointed-broker quoting, binding and issuance; product links; footer identifies Embroker Insurance Services, LLC. Accessed 2026-09-15.
8. [Commercial Crime Insurance: Coverage & Policies](https://www.embroker.com/coverage/commercial-crime-insurance/). Embroker; Why it's essential; Who needs this coverage; What is Commercial Crime insurance?; What's covered; What's not included; What's the difference between Fidelity Bonds and Commercial Crime insurance?; What does Commercial Crime insurance cost?. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Crime Insurance Guide

9. [Commercial Insurance Guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/09-comm/commercialguide.cfm). California Department of Insurance; Crime. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Updated 2026-09-24. 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.

## Agent and Developer Resources

- [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-embroker/crime.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)