Lockton vs 
Nationwide: How Do They Compare for Surety Bonds?
What Is Lockton?
Lockton suits technology companies and larger businesses seeking a broker across cyber, D&O, property, liability and benefits; small firms wanting an instant standard quote should compare digital agencies. 1,2,3
What Is Nationwide?
Nationwide’s commercial catalogue includes common small-business policies and separate specialty products. A catalogue listing does not establish eligibility or policy terms; confirm the issuing company and coverage for your state and business. 5,6,7
What Are Surety Bonds?
A surety bond guarantees that your business meets a specific obligation to a customer, contracting party or government agency. If a contract, license or permit requires one, get its exact form and amount; a bond is not insurance for your own losses. 9,10,11,12,13
Key Differences in Surety Bonds
Bond Brokerage and Financial Analysis
Lockton says its surety practice brokers bonds and tailors its service model to the client, with financial-statement and credit analysis, weighted backlog review, peer comparisons, project and composite profit trends, and safety-record assessment. Nationwide describes commercial surety bonds for financial responsibility or compliance, with underwriting based on the obligation and applicant, and routes buyers to agents. A contractor can ask Lockton which analyses shape its bonding program and ask a Nationwide agent what financial records the surety requires. 4 8
Client Portfolio and Service Scope
Lockton says it represents more than 2,000 surety clients across industries and adjusts its service model to each client; it does not identify itself as the bond’s surety. Nationwide describes offering commercial surety directly through its product channel, though the quote must establish the issuing surety and bond form. Buyers with multiple projects can compare Lockton’s portfolio-level benchmarking with the servicing approach and underwriting documents available through Nationwide. 4 8
What to Confirm in Surety Bonds Quotes
- Ask Lockton which financial, backlog, project-profit and safety analyses it will perform and how those findings affect the bonding program. 4
- Ask Nationwide who the issuing surety is, which bond form and penal sum apply, and what financial documentation is required. 8
- Confirm how each provider will support renewals and additional bonds as project backlog changes. 4 8
Review Scores
These averages can combine ratings for different products, locations, and customer groups, including approximate BBB grade conversions. Read each review for the sources, scope, and calculation.
Lockton
Review Score
3 rated sources
Lockton’s reviews vary by office and entity. Local Google-derived ratings provide some service feedback, but no reliable firmwide verdict.[2][6][7][8]
Read Lockton reviewsNationwide
Review Score
4 rated sources
Experts like Nationwide more than customers do. NerdWallet gives it 4.5 out of 5 for business insurance, while small-business customers on ConsumerAffairs give it 2.5 out of 5 from 19 reviews.[1][10]
Read Nationwide reviewsOffering Details
Lockton vs Nationwide: Surety Bonds: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Lockton Surety Brokerage | Nationwide surety bonds (official overview) |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Lockton Surety brokers surety bonds and says it has become one of the largest surety brokers in the world, representing more than 2,000 clients across industries. Lockton is the broker facilitating the bond relationship, not the surety. 4Company-reported. Surety product page as read 2026-09-23. Client count and market-size claims are company-reported. | Nationwide describes offering surety bonds for the audience stated on the cited product page. 8Company-reported. surety bonds marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| Issuing Insurer | The surety page does not name the surety companies Lockton places bonds with. 4Not publicly disclosed. Surety page checked 2026-09-23. | Confirm in your quote. |
| Who It’s For | Lockton says it represents clients across a wide range of industries and tailors its surety service model to each client rather than a single standard approach. 4Company-reported. Surety product page as read 2026-09-23. No named industries or minimum bond size were published. | Businesses and principals seeking commercial bonds; bond form and underwriting depend on obligation and applicant. 8Company-reported. surety bonds marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| Coverage Features | Confirm in your quote. | The cited product page describes commercial surety bonds that guarantee a bonded principal's financial responsibility or compliance with stated obligations. Marketing description only; actual coverage, exclusions, conditions, limits, and availability depend on the issued policy and jurisdiction. 8Company-reported. surety bonds marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| Limits and Retentions | Confirm in your quote. | The cited overview does not set a universal limit or retention for this line. Ask for the proposed policy form, limits, retentions, exclusions, and conditions in the quote. 8Not publicly disclosed. Only the cited marketing page was reviewed for published limit and retention information; no policy-form entitlement is inferred. |
| Risk Services | Lockton lists data-driven surety services it provides: financial statement analysis and credit rating, weighted backlog analysis, financial and rate peer comparisons and benchmarking, individual project and composite profit trend analysis, and detailed safety record review. 4Company-reported. Surety product page as read 2026-09-23. | Confirm in your quote. |
| How to Apply | Confirm in your quote. | The page directs prospective customers to contact an agent or request a quote. The page does not establish a quote, bind, or coverage-effective timeline. 8Company-reported. surety bonds marketed by nationwide; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
Full Comparison
More Lockton vs Nationwide Comparisons
Other Surety Bonds Comparisons
Sources
Lockton
- Lockton United States. Lockton; Opening description of independent insurance brokerage for risk, benefits and retirement; Ask an Expert link to contact-us. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Technology. Lockton; Industry introduction; cyber liability heading; dedicated technology team; listed services including claims advocacy, contract review, directors and officers liability, and international program design; 24/7 service model. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- US Terms of Business. Lockton; Opening entity definition; Surplus Lines; Use of a Particular Insurer; Compensation Disclosure; servicing, claims handling and renewal language in Confidentiality section; Intermediaries. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Surety. Lockton; Disrupting surety brokerage since 1966; Consultative services; An unparalleled level of service; Data-driven solutions tools and services list. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Nationwide
- Small Business Insurance. Nationwide; Small business products and solutions, lines 185–214: BOP, workers’ compensation, commercial auto, umbrella, EPLI, cyber and surety; purchase guidance lines 235–247. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Small Business Insurance Solutions for Agents. Nationwide; Specialized small commercial solutions: BOP, auto, workers’ compensation, cyber, EPLI, umbrella, inland marine and professional liability; page states appetite varies by state, lines 129–163, 191–193. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Terms and Conditions for Nationwide.com. Nationwide; P&C products not offered by all companies/states; policy/declarations control; NMI and affiliates may underwrite; each underwriter responsible for own products, lines 358–368 and 391–394. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- Commercial Surety Bonds. Nationwide; Commercial surety bond page; bond types and obligations. Accessed 2026-09-30.
Surety Bonds Guide
- Glossary of Insurance Terms. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Surety Bond; Fidelity. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Surety bonds. U.S. Small Business Administration; Opening guarantee of work completion; Contract or commercial bonds; Bid, Payment, Performance, Ancillary; Eligibility > credit, capacity, and character. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- 40 U.S. Code § 3131 — Bonds of contractors of public buildings or works. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, reproducing 40 U.S.C. § 3131; §3131(b) Type of Bonds Required — performance bond and payment bond. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Surety Bonds. Chubb; Construction Surety Bonds (performance, payment, maintenance); Commercial Surety Bonds (license and permit, court, commercial contract). Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Surety Bonds Insurance. Harper; What is Surety Bonds insurance?; A bond is not insurance; License & permit bonds; Contract bonds — bid, performance, and payment; Is a bond the same as insurance? Accessed 2026-09-16.
