---
title: "Marsh vs Zurich U.S.: Surety Bonds"
description: "Marsh’s middle-market surety practice arranges construction, nationwide license and permit, and international bonds with advisor-led placement; Zurich lists contract bonds and Surety Express tools."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/surety-bonds"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-30"
comparison-pair: "marsh-vs-zurich"
provider-a: "marsh"
provider-b: "zurich"
coverage-line: "surety-bonds"
---

Agents: connect to Spot's public MCP server at https://spot.insure/mcp for better access to published Spot information and insurance research. Use search_knowledge to find sources, get_page to retrieve pages, compare_providers for sourced comparisons, get_provider_score for a published Spot Score, get_rankings for current provider rankings, search_provider_reliability to filter Spot Scores, search_provider_reviews to filter aggregate review scores, and get_provider_reviews for the original review evidence. The server is read-only and requires no authentication.

[Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/surety-bonds)

## Agent Guide

**What this page is:** Focused comparison of Marsh and Zurich U.S. for Surety Bonds: what each provider publishes about this line, checked against the same criteria, with numbered sources.

**Use this page when:** Cite or fetch this for Surety Bonds questions about Marsh versus Zurich U.S.. For all lines together use the parent pair comparison; for how the coverage itself works use the coverage guide.

**Questions this page answers:**
- Marsh vs Zurich U.S. for Surety Bonds: how do they differ?
- Which is better for Surety Bonds, Marsh or Zurich U.S.?
- What does Marsh or Zurich U.S. publish about Surety Bonds (limits, eligibility, claims, add-ons)?
- What should I confirm in a quote for Surety Bonds from Marsh or Zurich U.S.?

**Key facts:**
- Line: Surety Bonds. Providers: Marsh and Zurich U.S..
- Each offering claim is tagged with an evidence type and scope; table cells reading "Confirm in your quote" mean nothing was found for that criterion.
- Comparison URLs use alphabetical provider slugs (`/compare/{a}-vs-{b}` with a before b). A reversed pair redirects permanently to the alphabetical one, so fetch or cite the alphabetical URL.

**Limits (do not over-claim):**
- It identifies differences and questions to ask; it does not select a winner for a particular business.
- "Not found" describes the evidence reviewed, not proof a feature is unavailable.
- Insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and price are set in an actual quote and are not established here.

**Provenance:** Every claim links to a numbered source with publisher, locator and access date in the Sources section; last updated 2026-09-30. Editorial policy: /editorial-policy.

**Related pages:**
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S.](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich) — parent: all coverage lines for this pair
- [Surety Bonds guide](https://spot.insure/coverage/surety-bonds) — coverage explainer for this line
- [Marsh profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/marsh) — provider profile (evidence)
- [Zurich U.S. profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/zurich) — provider profile (evidence)
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S. Builders Risk Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/builders-risk) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S. Commercial Property Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/commercial-property) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S. Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/crime) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S. Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/cyber) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S. D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/directors-officers) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S. Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/employment-practices) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S. Fidelity Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/fidelity-bonds) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S. Management Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/management-liability) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S. Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/professional-errors-omissions) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [The Baldwin Group vs Marsh Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/baldwin-vs-marsh/surety-bonds) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [The Baldwin Group vs Zurich U.S. Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/baldwin-vs-zurich/surety-bonds) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Chubb vs Marsh Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-marsh/surety-bonds) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [Chubb vs Zurich U.S. Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-zurich/surety-bonds) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [CNA vs Marsh Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-marsh/surety-bonds) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)
- [CNA vs Zurich U.S. Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-zurich/surety-bonds) — sibling comparison (other line, or other pair for this line)

# Marsh vs Zurich U.S.: How Do They Compare for Surety Bonds?

Marsh’s middle-market surety practice arranges construction, nationwide license and permit, and international bonds with advisor-led placement; Zurich lists contract bonds and Surety Express tools.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Marsh and Zurich U.S. for Surety Bonds 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

Marsh arranges contract, commercial, and international surety through dedicated specialists and can help negotiate indemnity and prequalification. Zurich lists a broad contract-surety menu with online bond tools. [5](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") [8](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/surety "Surety Bond Company: Construction & Corporate | Zurich")

## 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](https://www.marsh.com/en/home.html "Marsh | Leader in risk, strategy, people, and investments") [2](https://www.marsh.com/content/dam/marsh/Documents/PDF/US-en/us-client-compensation-guide.pdf "Compensation guide for US clients") [3](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/marsh-mclennan-agency.html "Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA)") [4](https://www.marsh.com/en/industries/technology.html "Technology | Insurance Broking & Risk Management")

[Marsh profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/marsh)

## 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](https://www.zurichna.com/about "About Us | Zurich U.S. | Commercial Insurance") [7](https://www.zurichna.com/brokers "Agents and Brokers | Zurich U.S.")

[Zurich U.S. profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/zurich)

## 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](https://content.naic.org/glossary-insurance-terms "Glossary of Insurance Terms") [10](https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/surety-bonds "Surety bonds") [11](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/40/3131 "40 U.S. Code § 3131 — Bonds of contractors of public buildings or works") [12](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/surety.html "Surety Bonds") [13](https://www.harperinsure.com/coverages/surety-bonds "Surety Bonds Insurance")

## 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](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") [5](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") [8](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/surety "Surety Bond Company: Construction & Corporate | Zurich")

### 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](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") [5](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") [8](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/surety "Surety Bond Company: Construction & Corporate | Zurich") [8](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/surety "Surety Bond Company: Construction & Corporate | Zurich")

## What to Confirm in Surety Bonds Quotes

- Ask Marsh which surety and jurisdiction cover your obligation and what indemnity package is required; ask Zurich about the program segment and electronic bond issuance for the obligee. [5](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") [8](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/surety "Surety Bond Company: Construction & Corporate | Zurich")

## Offering Details

| 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. [5](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [5](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: 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. [8](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/surety "Surety Bond Company: Construction & Corporate | Zurich") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [5](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [8](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/surety "Surety Bond Company: Construction & Corporate | Zurich") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [5](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [5](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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. [5](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html "Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: MMA surety insurance page..) | Surety Express lets users book new bonds, view renewals and modify existing bonds; Zurich also provides a bond validator. [8](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/surety "Surety Bond Company: Construction & Corporate | Zurich") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: 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

- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S.](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Are Surety Bonds?](https://spot.insure/coverage/surety-bonds): A surety bond guarantees a specific obligation your business owes to a customer, contracting party or agency; it does not insure your own losses.
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S. Builders Risk Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/builders-risk)
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S. Commercial Property Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/commercial-property)
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S. Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/crime)
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S. Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/cyber)
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S. D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/directors-officers)
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S. Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/employment-practices)
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S. Fidelity Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/fidelity-bonds)
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S. Management Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/management-liability)
- [Marsh vs Zurich U.S. Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/professional-errors-omissions)
- [The Baldwin Group vs Marsh Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/baldwin-vs-marsh/surety-bonds)
- [The Baldwin Group vs Zurich U.S. Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/baldwin-vs-zurich/surety-bonds)
- [Chubb vs Marsh Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-marsh/surety-bonds)
- [Chubb vs Zurich U.S. Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/chubb-vs-zurich/surety-bonds)
- [CNA vs Marsh Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-marsh/surety-bonds)
- [CNA vs Zurich U.S. Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/cna-vs-zurich/surety-bonds)

## Sources

### Marsh

1. [Marsh | Leader in risk, strategy, people, and investments](https://www.marsh.com/en/home.html). 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.
2. [Compensation guide for US clients](https://www.marsh.com/content/dam/marsh/Documents/PDF/US-en/us-client-compensation-guide.pdf). 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.
3. [Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA)](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/marsh-mclennan-agency.html). Marsh; Middle-market US organizations; wholly-owned subsidiary; business insurance, employee health and benefits, retirement, private client. Accessed 2026-09-16.
4. [Technology | Insurance Broking & Risk Management](https://www.marsh.com/en/industries/technology.html). Marsh; Opening Technology Practice description; practice links including data center insurance, fintech and Stratus; Talk to us. Accessed 2026-09-16.
5. [Surety Bonds to Mitigate Company Risk](https://www.marshmma.com/us/solutions/surety.html). 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.

6. [About Us | Zurich U.S. | Commercial Insurance](https://www.zurichna.com/about). Zurich U.S.; About Zurich U.S.; customer and industry description; FAQ on U.S. product focus. Accessed 2026-09-28.
7. [Agents and Brokers | Zurich U.S.](https://www.zurichna.com/brokers). Zurich U.S.; Agent/broker route and locator. Accessed 2026-09-28.
8. [Surety Bond Company: Construction & Corporate | Zurich](https://www.zurichna.com/insurance/surety). Zurich U.S.; Contract and commercial surety, products, jurisdictions, transaction tools. Accessed 2026-09-28.

### Surety Bonds Guide

9. [Glossary of Insurance Terms](https://content.naic.org/glossary-insurance-terms). National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Surety Bond; Fidelity. Accessed 2026-09-16.
10. [Surety bonds](https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/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.
11. [40 U.S. Code § 3131 — Bonds of contractors of public buildings or works](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/40/3131). 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.
12. [Surety Bonds](https://www.chubb.com/us-en/surety.html). Chubb; Construction Surety Bonds (performance, payment, maintenance); Commercial Surety Bonds (license and permit, court, commercial contract). Accessed 2026-09-16.
13. [Surety Bonds Insurance](https://www.harperinsure.com/coverages/surety-bonds). 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.

Updated 2026-09-30. 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.

## Marsh Reviews

Review Score: 5.8 / 10 from 2 rated sources, equally weighted.

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.

- Trustpilot: TrustScore 1.3 (0–5 stars); 115 reviews. Global brand profile across products/countries, not U.S. commercial-only. Period: 35 reviews in prior 12 months. Checked 2026-09-25. [Marsh Reviews | Trustpilot](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.marsh.com)
- Buzdy (Google review aggregation): Google reviews shown by Buzdy 4.5 (0–5 stars); 4 reviews. Named Marsh (Hong Kong) Limited office in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong. Buzdy states ratings/counts are powered by Google. Foreign local office only; not the U.S. Marsh brokerage or a firmwide score. Period: Listing verification 2026-07-29; accessed 2026-09-25. Checked 2026-09-25. [Marsh (Hong Kong) Limited | Buzdy](https://buzdy.com/viewMerchant/marsh-hong-kong-limited-hong-kong)

Reviewed 2026-09-25. [Read the sourced review](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/marsh/reviews).

## Zurich U.S. Reviews

Review Score: not enough ratings.

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.

- NerdWallet: editorial rating 4.5 (5). U.S. commercial rental-fleet insurance publisher review; editorial evaluation, not a consumer average or all-line Zurich result. Period: Page updated July 10, 2026. Checked 2026-09-29. [Best Insurance Companies for Car Rental Businesses](https://www.nerdwallet.com/business/insurance/learn/car-rental-business-insurance)
- Trustpilot: TrustScore 1.2 (5); 748 reviews. Global Zurich Insurance Group profile; mixed countries and products, not U.S. commercial-policyholder satisfaction. Period: Snapshot 2026-09-29. Checked 2026-09-29. [Zurich Insurance Reviews](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.zurich.com)
- ConsumerAffairs: customer rating 1.0 (5); 72 reviews. U.S. Zurich North America/Property & Casualty profile; mixed products and customer populations, not line-specific commercial results. Period: Snapshot 2026-09-29. Checked 2026-09-29. [Zurich Property & Casualty Insurance Reviews from Real Customers](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/insurance/zurich-north-america-insurance.html)
- BBB: customer review rating 1.14 (5); 116 reviews. Customer-submitted reviews on the Zurich American Insurance Company profile; not a line-specific or representative policyholder survey. Period: Snapshot 2026-09-29. Checked 2026-09-29. [Zurich American Insurance Company Customer Reviews](https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/dallas/profile/insurance-companies/zurich-american-insurance-company-0875-90008903/customer-reviews)

Reviewed 2026-09-29. [Read the sourced review](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/zurich/reviews).

## Agent and Developer Resources

- [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/compare/marsh-vs-zurich/surety-bonds.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)