---
title: "Cowbell vs Travelers Crime Insurance"
description: "Cowbell distributes Zurich Select Plus crime via wholesalers; Travelers underwrites fidelity and crime through independent agents on Travelers paper."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-travelers/crime"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-23"
---

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# Cowbell vs Travelers Crime Insurance

Cowbell distributes Zurich Select Plus crime via wholesalers; Travelers underwrites fidelity and crime through independent agents on Travelers paper.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Cowbell and Travelers 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 operates the platform for Zurich’s Select Plus crime module, written on Zurich admitted paper and sold only through appointed E&S wholesalers. Travelers underwrites fidelity and crime through multiple insuring agreements in its Management & Professional Liability line, naming Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America in the product-page disclosure, and sells through independent agents. [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.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fidelity-crime "Fidelity & Crime Insurance")

## 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 Travelers Insurance?

Travelers is a U.S. property-casualty insurance group that markets business coverage, including a technology practice, through independent agents and brokers. Buyers can investigate CyberRisk Tech, a small-business technology-services policy, and other commercial lines, then confirm the issuing company and California availability on a quote. [5](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/technology "Technology Insurance") [6](https://www.travelers.com/about-travelers/producer-compensation-disclosure "Travelers Producer Compensation Disclosure (United States)") [7](https://www.travelers.com/contact-us "Contact Us")

[Travelers profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/travelers)

## 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

### 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. [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.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fidelity-crime "Fidelity & Crime Insurance")

### 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. [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.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fidelity-crime "Fidelity & Crime Insurance")

### 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. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [8](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fidelity-crime "Fidelity & Crime Insurance")

## What to Confirm in Crime Insurance Quotes

- Confirm whether you must use a Zurich E&S wholesaler (Cowbell) or a Travelers independent agent. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises") [8](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fidelity-crime "Fidelity & Crime Insurance")
- Ask which Zurich entity versus which Travelers company issues the policy. [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.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fidelity-crime "Fidelity & Crime Insurance")
- Ask Travelers whether the social-engineering fraud endorsement is on the quote. [8](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fidelity-crime "Fidelity & Crime Insurance")
- Check Cowbell’s private-company size caps if you are a public company or larger private firm. [4](https://cowbell.insure/mgmt-liability/ "Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Crime Coverage | Travelers Fidelity & 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..) | Travelers underwrites fidelity and crime coverage through multiple insuring agreements sold under the Management & Professional Liability line, rather than as a single fixed policy. [8](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fidelity-crime "Fidelity & Crime Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [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..) | 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. [8](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fidelity-crime "Fidelity & Crime Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product page video legal footer..) |
| 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..) | Travelers markets fidelity and crime coverage to nonprofit organizations, private companies and public companies. [8](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fidelity-crime "Fidelity & Crime Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product page "Who is fidelity and crime coverage right for?" section..) |
| 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?'..) | 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. [8](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fidelity-crime "Fidelity & Crime Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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..) |
| 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..) | The reviewed page does not publish limits, deductibles or premiums for fidelity and crime coverage; it cites a median fraud loss of $130,000 and says at least one in five cases costs $1 million or more as general risk context, not as policy terms. [8](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fidelity-crime "Fidelity & Crime Insurance") (Evidence: Not found in reviewed sources; scope: Product page video statistics and general text as read on 2026-09-23..) |
| 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..) | Travelers offers a social engineering fraud endorsement and publishes guidance such as "Coverage 101" and social-engineering protection resources alongside the product. [8](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fidelity-crime "Fidelity & Crime Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product page Resources 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. [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?'..) | Fidelity and crime coverage is bought through a Travelers independent agent. [8](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fidelity-crime "Fidelity & Crime Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product page "Find an insurance agent" call to action..) |

## Full Comparison

- [Cowbell vs Travelers](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-travelers): 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 Travelers Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-travelers/cyber)
- [Cowbell vs Travelers D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-travelers/directors-officers)
- [Cowbell vs Travelers Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-travelers/employment-practices)
- [Cowbell vs Travelers Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-travelers/fiduciary)
- [Cowbell vs Travelers Management Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-travelers/management-liability)
- [Cowbell vs Travelers Tech E&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cowbell-vs-travelers/technology-errors-omissions)
- [Alliance Risk vs Cowbell Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-cowbell/crime)
- [Alliance Risk vs Travelers Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/alliance-risk-vs-travelers/crime)
- [Beazley vs Cowbell Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-cowbell/crime)
- [Beazley vs Travelers Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-travelers/crime)
- [CFC vs Cowbell Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-cowbell/crime)
- [CFC vs Travelers Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/cfc-vs-travelers/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.

### Travelers

5. [Technology Insurance](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/technology). Travelers; Technology insurance products we offer: CyberRisk Tech, Global Companion Plus+, general liability, commercial property, workers compensation, commercial auto, umbrella; startup-to-established-leader audience. Accessed 2026-09-16.
6. [Travelers Producer Compensation Disclosure (United States)](https://www.travelers.com/about-travelers/producer-compensation-disclosure). Travelers; Independent producers; seven compensation types; Simply Business, Inc. and InsuraMatch, LLC ownership; The Travelers Indemnity Company footer; Northfield Excess & Surplus Lines product list. Accessed 2026-09-16.
7. [Contact Us](https://www.travelers.com/contact-us). Travelers; Business insurance sold through independent agents; business claims 1.800.238.6225; MyTravelers for business features. Accessed 2026-09-16.
8. [Fidelity & Crime Insurance](https://www.travelers.com/business-insurance/professional-liability-insurance/fidelity-crime). Travelers; What is fidelity and crime coverage?; Who is fidelity and crime coverage right for?; Types of fidelity and crime claims; video legal footer naming Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America. 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 2026-09-23. 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-travelers/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)