What Is Marsh?
Marsh suits technology and larger businesses seeking specialist cyber placement or broad global risk advice; small firms wanting a quick standard quote should compare its MMA route or digital agencies. 1,2,3,4
Zurich U.S. Business Insurance: Products, Access, and Claims
Zurich U.S. serves Middle Market businesses and large or national accounts with commercial property-casualty and specialty insurance. Buyers can explore product lines and work through an agent or broker; the insurer named on a quote or policy identifies which Zurich company underwrites that coverage. 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 Geography and Program Support
Marsh McLennan Agency arranges contract surety for construction, commercial surety for nationwide license and permit bonds, and international surety for global regulatory needs. Its services include indemnity-package negotiation, industry benchmarking, joint-venture and teaming-agreement prequalification, and continuity consulting. Zurich lists contract bonds from bid and performance through license, permit, and environmental bonds. A multi-state or international business should ask which jurisdictions and obligees each placement can support. 5 5 8
Specialist Placement and Scale
Marsh says it has more than 150 surety professionals across all 50 states and directs buyers to a specialist rather than an online application. Zurich describes Surety Express for bookings and renewals and targets contractors from small firms to ENR 400. Ask Marsh for the surety market and Zurich whether the portal can issue the required bond in your state. 5 5 8 8
What to Confirm in Surety Bonds Quotes
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.
Marsh
Review Score
2 rated sources
Marsh’s global Trustpilot profile has a poor 1.3/5 score. Treat it as a service warning to investigate with your proposed team; it does not isolate US commercial accounts.[2][4][7]
Read Marsh reviewsZurich U.S.
Review Score
No reviews found
The available Zurich review evidence is mixed and comes from distinct populations: a car-rental-business editorial rating, broad global and U.S. review-platform snapshots, and a BBB business-profile grade. These are not a representative measure of every Zurich commercial policy or claim.[1][4][5][6][7]
Read Zurich U.S. reviewsOffering Details
Marsh vs Zurich U.S.: Surety Bonds: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Marsh McLennan Agency Surety Bonds | Zurich Contract and Commercial Surety Bonds |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA), Marsh's middle-market subsidiary, arranges surety bonds through a dedicated surety practice rather than underwriting them itself. 5Company-reported. MMA surety insurance page. | Confirm in your quote. |
| Issuing Insurer | The reviewed page does not name a specific surety insurer for a standard bond; MMA says it offers national market representation, implying the issuing surety varies by placement. 5Not publicly disclosed. MMA surety insurance page as read on 2026-09-23. | Confirm in your quote. |
| Who It’s For | Confirm in your quote. | Zurich describes contract surety for contractors from small firms to ENR 400 and commercial surety for Fortune 2000/regional companies and qualified transactional buyers. 8Company-reported. Zurich U.S. brand; exact underwriting company may vary by policy and state; commercial and contract surety; United States. Company-reported product description; actual coverage, underwriting, limits and state availability are governed by issued policy terms. |
| Coverage Features | MMA offers Contract Surety for construction and similar projects, Commercial Surety issuing license and permit bonds nationwide (in lieu of or alongside letters of credit and other banking obligations), and International Surety for global operations facing varied regulatory requirements. 5Company-reported. MMA surety insurance page, Surety Coverage section. | Zurich contract surety includes bid, performance, labor/material payment, subcontract, subdivision, maintenance, supply, license/permit and environmental bonds. 8Company-reported. Zurich U.S. brand; exact underwriting company may vary by policy and state; commercial and contract surety; United States. Company-reported product description; actual coverage, underwriting, limits and state availability are governed by issued policy terms. |
| Limits and Retentions | MMA says it has more than 150 surety professionals across all 50 states, placed $353 million in surety premium for nearly 10,000 clients, and that its markets write 95% of all contract bonds in the U.S., according to the company. 5Company-reported. MMA surety insurance page; company-reported statistics, not independently verified, and do not indicate bond size or capacity for an individual client. | Confirm in your quote. |
| Risk Services | MMA lists competitive indemnity package negotiation, industry benchmarking, joint-venture and teaming-agreement prequalification support, continuity and ownership-transfer consulting, and competitive program design review as services tied to its surety practice. 5Company-reported. MMA surety insurance page, Benefits of Surety and Surety Coverage sections. | Confirm in your quote. |
| How to Apply | You work with an MMA surety specialist directly; the page names a Surety Department Supervisor and describes advisor-led placement rather than an online bond application. 5Company-reported. MMA surety insurance page. | Surety Express lets users book new bonds, view renewals and modify existing bonds; Zurich also provides a bond validator. 8Company-reported. Zurich U.S. brand; exact underwriting company may vary by policy and state; commercial and contract surety; United States. Company-reported product description; actual coverage, underwriting, limits and state availability are governed by issued policy terms. |
Full Comparison
More Marsh vs Zurich U.S. Comparisons
Other Surety Bonds Comparisons
Sources
Marsh
- Marsh | Leader in risk, strategy, people, and investments. Marsh; Hero and capability tiles; FAQ: What does Marsh do?; industries served; Is Marsh the same as Marsh McLennan? January 2026 brand change. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Compensation guide for US clients. Marsh; US broking segments; broker role; retail commissions, client fees, wholesale, insurer consulting, contingent and supplemental commissions; Marsh LLC and Marsh USA LLC; page 3: broker role and Marsh & McLennan Agency segment; page 7: copyright © 2024 Marsh LLC. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA). Marsh; Middle-market US organizations; wholly-owned subsidiary; business insurance, employee health and benefits, retirement, private client. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Technology | Insurance Broking & Risk Management. Marsh; Opening Technology Practice description; practice links including data center insurance, fintech and Stratus; Talk to us. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk. Marsh McLennan Agency; Opening positioning and stats (150+ surety professionals across all 50 states; $353 million in surety premium for nearly 10,000 clients; 95% of all contract bonds in the U.S. written in our markets); Surety Coverage: Contract Surety, Commercial Surety, Joint ventures and teaming agreements, International Surety; Benefits of Surety. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Zurich U.S.
- About Us | Zurich U.S. | Commercial Insurance. Zurich U.S.; About Zurich U.S.; customer and industry description; FAQ on U.S. product focus. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Agents and Brokers | Zurich U.S. Zurich U.S.; Agent/broker route and locator. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Surety Bond Company: Construction & Corporate | Zurich. Zurich U.S.; Contract and commercial surety, products, jurisdictions, transaction tools. Accessed 2026-09-28.
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.
