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

Travelers underwrites fidelity and crime cover bought through an independent agent, with a social engineering fraud endorsement; Cowbell's Zurich-underwritten crime module is for private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets, via appointed wholesalers.

Cowbell fits smaller private firms within its employee and asset targets that can use an appointed wholesaler; Travelers serves private, public and nonprofit buyers and lists multiple crime agreements plus optional social-engineering cover. ^1,^2,³

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

Travelers explicitly includes public and nonprofit organizations and offers a social-engineering endorsement; Cowbell targets private companies below its size limits. Compare Travelers’ agreements with the Select Plus crime module for the specific fraud losses you face. ³ ¹

Two Carriers, Two Distribution Paths

Cowbell distributes Zurich’s Select Plus crime module; Zurich underwrites it on admitted paper and only appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers can buy it through Cowbell’s API. Travelers underwrites fidelity and crime itself through multiple insuring agreements under Management & Professional Liability, and the coverage is bought through a Travelers independent agent. ¹ ² ³

Named Paper

Cowbell and Zurich say Select Plus modules sit on Zurich admitted paper; the Zurich footer names Zurich American Insurance Company in copyright text without stating that entity issues this module. Travelers’ product-page video disclosure names Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America and its property casualty affiliates, while noting the specific issuing entity can vary. ² ³

Appetite, Perils and Extra Tools

Cowbell targets private companies under 250 employees and under $50 million in assets and defines crime as theft, fraud and embezzlement by employees or third parties. Travelers markets fidelity and crime to nonprofits, private companies and public companies and lists forgery or alteration, loss of money and securities, claim-expense reimbursement, employee dishonesty, funds-transfer fraud, computer fraud and social-engineering fraud. Travelers also offers a social-engineering fraud endorsement and Coverage 101 resources. Cowbell’s reviewed pages do not describe crime-specific risk-control services or publish limits. ¹ ³

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

Confirm whether you must use a Zurich E&S wholesaler (Cowbell) or a Travelers independent agent. ¹ ³
Ask which Zurich entity versus which Travelers company issues the policy. ² ³
Ask Travelers whether the social-engineering fraud endorsement is on the quote. ³
Check Cowbell’s private-company size caps if you are a public company or larger private firm. ¹

Cowbell vs Travelers Crime Insurance Compared

Cowbell vs Travelers: Crime Insurance: documented features by provider

Criteria	Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Crime Coverage	Travelers Fidelity & 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.	Travelers markets fidelity and crime coverage to nonprofit organizations, private companies and public companies. ³Company-reported. Product page "Who is fidelity and crime coverage right for?" section.
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?'.	Fidelity and crime coverage is bought through a Travelers independent agent. ³Company-reported. Product page "Find an insurance agent" call to action.
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?'.	Travelers says the coverage addresses loss from forgery or alteration, loss of money and securities, and reimbursement for claim expenses, protecting against threats such as employee dishonesty and theft, funds transfer fraud, computer fraud, employee fraud and social engineering fraud. ³Company-reported. Product page "What is fidelity and crime coverage?" and "Types of fidelity and crime claims" sections; exact terms and exclusions are set by the issued policy.
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.	Travelers underwrites fidelity and crime coverage through multiple insuring agreements sold under the Management & Professional Liability line, rather than as a single fixed policy. ³Company-reported. Product page "What is fidelity and crime coverage?" section.
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. ^1,²Company-reported. Management liability page intro; Zurich page intro and footer.	The product page's video disclosure names Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America and its property casualty affiliates; the specific issuing entity for a given policy can vary. ³Company-reported. Product page video legal footer.