Cowbell vs 
Marsh: How Do They Compare for Crime Insurance?
Marsh places crime coverage through advisors and says its team has handled complex placements of about $10 million to $110 million; Cowbell's Zurich-underwritten crime module is for private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets, via wholesalers.
Cowbell fits smaller private companies within its 250-employee and $50 million asset targets; Marsh suits buyers seeking complex crime placements or social-engineering cover above an existing program. 1,3
What Are the Key Differences Between Cowbell and Marsh Crime Insurance?
Marsh describes placement experience from about $10 million to $110 million, not a limit guarantee, and offers social-engineering infill above existing coverage. Cowbell’s module is aimed at smaller private companies and publishes no crime limit. 3 1
SME Module Versus Complex Placement Range
Cowbell’s crime coverage is a Zurich Select Plus module aimed at private companies with under 250 employees and under $50 million in assets. Marsh says its team has handled complex crime placements ranging from about $10 million to $110 million (also stated in GBP on the same page), which is a description of placement experience, not a quoted limit for any buyer. 1 3
Who Underwrites and Who Places
Cowbell operates the platform; Zurich underwrites the module on admitted paper, and only appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers can access it through the API. Marsh’s financial and professional liability practice places commercial crime, and Marsh McLennan Agency also places crime bundled with fidelity in its executive and professional liability practice; the reviewed Marsh pages do not name a crime insurer and say definitions differ across insurers. 1 2 3 4
Perils, Ransomware and Services
Cowbell’s FAQ describes theft, fraud and embezzlement by employees or third parties. Marsh lists employee white-collar fraud, third-party fraud, collusion, hacking or computer-related crime, social-engineering fraud and tangible asset theft, and notes that crime policies usually exclude ransomware while most cover direct financial losses from funds stolen by hackers. Marsh also offers infill and top-up social-engineering cover in excess of an existing program; Cowbell’s reviewed pages do not describe crime-specific risk-control services. 1 3
What Should You Confirm in Cowbell and Marsh Crime Insurance Quotes?
- Confirm whether you fit Cowbell’s employee and asset targets or need Marsh’s larger-placement range. 1 3
- Ask Marsh whether the quote is Marsh corporate or MMA, and whether ransomware is excluded. 3 4
- Name the Zurich E&S wholesaler and issuing entity on a Cowbell quote. 1 2
- Ask Marsh whether infill social-engineering cover is being quoted above your primary crime limit. 3
Cowbell vs Marsh Crime Insurance Compared
Cowbell vs Marsh: Crime Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Crime Coverage | Marsh Commercial Crime Insurance Brokerage |
|---|---|---|
| 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?'. | You engage Marsh's crime specialists (Marsh corporate or MMA) directly to identify crime exposure and place coverage; the reviewed pages describe advisor-led placement rather than an online quote tool. 3,4Company-reported. Commercial crime insurance and MMA executive and professional liability pages. |
| 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?'. | Marsh lists employee white-collar fraud (including fidelity losses from trusted employees), third-party fraud, collusion, hacking or computer-related crime, social engineering fraud, and tangible asset theft as risks a commercial crime policy can address. It notes that crime policies usually exclude ransomware, though most cover direct financial losses from funds stolen by hackers. 3Company-reported. Commercial crime insurance page; the page is Marsh's global/UK financial-professional-liability practice content and cites a UK-based crime leader, so figures and coverage descriptions may not reflect a US-specific program. |
| 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. | Marsh's financial and professional liability practice places commercial crime insurance; Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA), the middle-market subsidiary, also places crime coverage bundled with fidelity as part of its executive and professional liability practice. 3,4Company-reported. Marsh corporate commercial crime page and MMA executive and professional liability page. |
