Cowbell vs Gallagher: How Do They Compare for Crime Insurance?

Gallagher arranges crime with outside carriers, sending small businesses to an advisor form and using peer analysis for limits on larger accounts; Cowbell's crime module, underwritten by Zurich, is open only to appointed wholesalers and targets companies under 250 employees.

Cowbell fits private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets that can work through a wholesaler; Gallagher can assess both small-business needs and larger accounts using peer-based limit analysis. ^1,^2,^3,⁴

What Are the Key Differences Between Cowbell and Gallagher Crime Insurance?

If your business is larger than Cowbell’s stated size target, Gallagher describes a separate large-account practice and a peer-based way to set limits. Cowbell requires an appointed Zurich wholesaler, while Gallagher’s small-business team starts with an advisor form. ⁴ ¹ ³

Who Underwrites Versus Who Places

Cowbell operates the platform for Zurich’s Select Plus crime module; Zurich underwrites that module. Gallagher Small Business arranges Fidelity and Crime with outside carriers for small-business clients, and Gallagher’s Executive and Financial Risk practice places the same coverage for larger accounts. Gallagher does not underwrite. ¹ ² ³ ⁴

A Cowbell quote is Zurich’s module on paper Cowbell and Zurich describe as Zurich admitted. A Gallagher quote is a placement with a carrier Gallagher’s reviewed pages do not name. ² ³

How You Reach a Quote

Cowbell’s crime module is available only to appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers through the Cowbell API. Gallagher’s small-business crime page routes you to a Connect With An Advisor form. ¹ ³

You cannot buy the Cowbell module yourself. You start Gallagher small-business crime by sending that advisor form. ¹ ³

Limits on Larger Gallagher Accounts

For larger accounts Gallagher says it sets crime limits using peer analysis and an exposure index from the Surety Association of America and the American Institute of Accountants. Neither the Cowbell page nor Zurich’s Select Plus page publishes crime limit or retention amounts. ⁴ ¹ ²

What Should You Confirm in Cowbell and Gallagher Crime Insurance Quotes?

Confirm the appointed Zurich E&S wholesaler for Cowbell. ¹
Ask Gallagher whether the quote is the small-business product or the executive-risk practice. ³ ⁴
If Gallagher uses its peer-analysis method, ask for the recommended limit. ⁴
Compare Cowbell’s theft, fraud and embezzlement description with Gallagher’s listed perils on the bound forms. ¹ ³
Check Cowbell’s under-250-employee and under-$50-million-asset target against your figures. ¹

Cowbell vs Gallagher Crime Insurance Compared

Cowbell vs Gallagher: Crime Insurance: documented features by provider

Criteria	Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Crime Coverage	Gallagher Small Business Fidelity and Crime Insurance
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. ¹Company-reported. FAQ 'What size accounts are targeted?' and Target industries list.	Gallagher recommends this coverage for small businesses exposed to funds-transfer fraud, computer fraud, employee fraud, or destruction of personal property. ³Company-reported. Small-business crime product page "Do you need Fidelity and Crime insurance?" list; actual acceptance depends on underwriting.
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. ¹Company-reported. FAQ 'How can I access the Zurich Select Plus management liability product through Cowbell?'.	The small-business crime page routes buyers to a Connect With An Advisor form asking for company details, business description, other coverage interests, employee count and annual revenue. ³Company-reported. Product page inquiry form, inspected without submission.
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. ¹Company-reported. FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?'.	Gallagher describes Fidelity and Crime insurance as covering losses from fraudulent or dishonest acts, including credit card forgery, computer fraud, funds-transfer fraud, employee fraud, theft and destruction of property. ³Company-reported. Small-business crime product page; a coverage description, not a specific policy's insuring agreement or exclusions.
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. ^1,²Company-reported. Management liability page intro and module list; Zurich page module-name section.	Gallagher Small Business arranges Fidelity and Crime coverage with outside carriers for small-business clients; its group-level Executive and Financial Risk practice separately places the same coverage for larger accounts. Gallagher does not underwrite either policy. ^3,⁴Company-reported. Small-business crime product page and the group-level executive-risk practice page.