California Crime Insurance Guide

California licensed escrow agents need to map the transactions they handle to the state’s two fidelity paths. Escrow Agents’ Fidelity Corporation (EAFC) covers specified transaction types, while other escrow transactions require fidelity bonding for people with access to trust money; a separate surety bond also applies. Match each safeguard to the actual transaction and policy terms.

What Is Crime Insurance?

Crime insurance can help reimburse specified business losses from theft and fraud, including employee theft and forgery. Compare those protections separately and ask whether a payment sent after an impersonation scam is covered. Read the national Crime guide.

California Crime Insurance Requirements

Requirement	Details
Specified escrow transaction types	California requires a licensed escrow agent doing business in the state to participate in the Escrow Agents’ Fidelity Corporation for specified real-property, bulk-sale, fund or joint-control, manufactured/mobile-home, reservation-deposit, and deed-of-trust-note escrow transactions. EAFC coverage is limited to trust-obligation losses from those transaction types. ¹
Other escrow transaction types	For transactions outside the EAFC categories, the escrow agent must provide indemnity under Financial Code § 17203.1. The current DFPI application materials describe a minimum $125,000 fidelity bond covering each officer, director, trustee, and employee for specified dishonest losses; a deductible requires a separate surety bond for the deductible amount. ^1,³

What Should You Watch for With Crime Insurance in California?

EAFC protection depends on what you hold in escrow
If you operate a California licensed escrow business, classify each transaction before deciding that EAFC is your only fidelity protection. The statute limits required membership and EAFC coverage to listed transaction types; other transactions require indemnity under Financial Code § 17203.1. If an EAFC-covered loss is also covered by a member’s general liability, dishonesty, indemnity, or other private policy, § 17312(d) makes that private policy the primary indemnity. That priority applies only to a loss actually covered by both; the statute also says a private policy’s failure to indemnify within EAFC’s statutory timing does not limit EAFC’s obligation. Review your transaction mix and policy terms. ¹
Trust-money access determines whose fidelity coverage matters
California law requires officers, directors, trustees, and employees who access an escrow agent’s money or negotiable securities, or draw checks on its trust funds, to furnish a bond indemnifying the escrow agent. Ask who is included, what losses count as dishonest abstraction or misappropriation, and how the filed bond limit relates to the trust obligations you handle. ^2,³
Keep the escrow surety bond separate from fidelity protection
California’s escrow surety bond is conditioned on the licensee following the Escrow Law, honestly applying funds, and paying amounts due under that law; it has its own surety liability limit. If you compare a crime quote to escrow security, list the surety bond, EAFC membership, and any required employee fidelity bond separately and confirm which one addresses each loss. ⁴

Which Crime Insurance Providers Have California License Records?

These providers publish a national listing for Crime; the license records below name the licensed entities and roles. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in California. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

Coalition
Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28
Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc.
Coalition’s license page lists producer and surplus-lines licenses for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc. in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The page separately lists insurers; this record covers the brokerage entity only. ²³
Coalition offers crime insurance through its executive-risks product for private and nonprofit US organizations.
Corgi
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.
Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. ²⁴
Corgi lists crime insurance among its main policies.
Gallagher
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, LLC
Gallagher Small Business’s legal-information page gives the producer identification associated with the disclosed California license. The provider record treats this identifier as company-reported and not independently verified; no other state is recorded. ²⁵
Gallagher arranges crime insurance.
RiskCube
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
RiskCube Insurance Services, LLC
RiskCube’s license page, effective February 11, 2026, lists property-and-casualty producer/broker licenses in California and Delaware and names NPN 21694336. The company says it is expanding its licensing footprint; no other states are listed. ²⁸
RiskCube arranges commercial crime insurance for startups.
The Hartford
Insurer · checked 2026-09-28
Hartford Fire Insurance Company
California DOI’s current company profile identifies Hartford Fire Insurance Company (NAIC 19682) as UNLIMITED-NORMAL for property and casualty, authorized since 7 January 1870. The source covers this insurer in California and does not map every Hartford product to an issuing subsidiary; no expiry/renewal date is shown. ³⁰
The Hartford offers crime insurance as a management-liability coverage option.
Travelers
Insurer · checked 2026-09-28
The Travelers Indemnity Company
California DOI’s current company profile identifies The Travelers Indemnity Company (NAIC 25658) as UNLIMITED-NORMAL for property and casualty, authorized since 17 June 2002. The source covers this insurer in California and does not map every Travelers product to this issuing company; no expiry/renewal date is shown. ³¹
Travelers offers commercial crime insurance.
Vouch
Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28
Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC
Vouch’s licenses page, effective January 16, 2025, lists producer licenses in all 50 states and DC. Its separate surplus-lines table includes Idaho number 870820, while a footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses. Because those statements conflict for Idaho, this record keeps Idaho producer-only and does not treat the table number as established agency surplus-lines authority. The page is company-reported and does not establish product availability. ³²
As of September 16, 2026, Vouch lists crime among the coverages in its technology-company programs.

Who Regulates Insurance in California?

California Department of Insurance

The California Department of Insurance regulates insurers and insurance producers, provides company and license-status searches, and accepts complaints through its Consumer Complaint Center. Its commercial-insurance guidance explains the Department’s limited jurisdiction over surplus-line insurers. ^7,^8,^9,^10,²⁰

Website: Regulator website
License lookup: Search licensed producers
Complaints: File a complaint
Phone: (800) 927-4357

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in California

Reported tax rate. 3% of taxable premium when California is the insured's home state ^11,^13,^18,^10,^12,^14,^15,^16,¹⁹

When California is your home state, the surplus-line broker tax is generally 3% of gross premiums less returned premiums. Ask the broker to show the home-state determination, taxable premium and any applicable exception; ordinary multistate reporting does not itself reduce the tax base. A broker generally must search the admitted market unless a California exemption or the qualified federal commercial-purchaser exception applies. CIGA does not protect claims under a surplus-line policy.

Surplus Line Association of California

California usually requires an admitted-market search: Before most nonadmitted placements, a broker must search among admitted insurers. After a public hearing and the required statutory findings, California’s Commissioner may exempt qualifying coverage or risks through an Export List order. The confidential written report remains required under §1763.1. Separately, §1763(h) waives the search for a commercial insured meeting California’s §1760.1(b) definition: the broker must first give written disclosure about possible admitted-market availability and its potential greater protection and oversight, then receive the insured’s written request for nonadmitted placement. The broker must ensure eligibility, with a safe harbor for reasonable reliance on information supplied in good faith. The federal exempt-commercial-purchaser route under §8205 has its own §8206 definition and requires disclosure about possible admitted-market availability and its potential greater protection and oversight, followed by the purchaser’s written request. Ask which route and eligibility criteria the broker relies on. ^12,^15,^16,^5,^6,²¹
Separate tax calculation from allocation reporting: Section 1775.5 generally counts the entire premium for nonadmitted insurance placed in one transaction with one underwriter or group for a California-home-state insured. It has a separate interstate-motor-transit formula and exclusions for premiums on insurance placed by or through a special-lines surplus line broker under §1760.5 and the defined risk-financing portion of specified Superfund remediation products. CDI’s calendar-year 2025 instructions include policy-related fees in gross premium, say it does not collect the tax on risks outside the United States, and treat multistate allocation percentages as informational. Have the broker explain how those rules apply to your placement. ^13,^17,¹⁸

What Should You Ask Before Buying Crime Insurance in California?

Which of your escrow transaction types fall within Financial Code § 17312(c), and which require the § 17203.1 fidelity-bond path?
Does the filed employee bond cover every person with access to trust money, and how does it address the current $125,000 minimum and deductible requirements?
What loss would go to the escrow surety bond, EAFC, the employee fidelity bond, or a separate commercial crime policy?

Crime Insurance in California: Frequently Asked Questions

Does EAFC cover every transaction a California escrow agent handles?

No. Financial Code § 17312 limits required EAFC membership and EAFC coverage to specified transaction types. Other transaction types require indemnity under § 17203.1, so classify each escrow service before relying on one path. ¹

What if a California escrow fidelity bond has a deductible?

DFPI’s application materials say the escrow agent must file a separate surety bond in the amount of the fidelity-bond deductible and maintain it at that amount. Check the current form and applicable regulation with the department before relying on a quote. ³

Sources for Crime Insurance in California

1
California Financial Code § 17312: Escrow Agents’ Fidelity Corporation; Membership and Scope of Coverage. California Legislature; Subsections (a), (c), and (d): required EAFC membership and covered transaction types; private GL, dishonesty, indemnity, or other private insurance is primary for an overlapping covered loss, with the timing qualification in § 17312(d); other transaction types require indemnity under § 17203.1. Amended by Stats. 2013, ch. 352, § 88; effective September 26, 2013 and operative July 1, 2013. Accessed 2026-09-28.
2
California Financial Code § 17203.1: Employee Bond. California Legislature; Subsections (a)–(b): personnel with access to escrow money/securities or trust-fund checks, commissioner-set aggregate bond amount and terms, filing, surety limit, and authority to require more. Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 548, § 1. Accessed 2026-09-28.
3
DFPI-EL 301A: General Information for Escrow Agent, Joint Control, and Internet Escrow Agent License Applicants. California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation; Page 3, Fidelity Bond Requirement: $125,000 minimum for covered non-EAFC transaction types; people covered, dishonest-loss purpose, California-authorized insurer, required rider, and deductible surety bond. Form revision November 2020. Accessed 2026-09-28.
4
California Financial Code § 17203: Bond of Escrow Agent. California Legislature; Bond conditions: faithful compliance, application of funds and obligations, payment of amounts due; surety may pay the commissioner or conservator. Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 517, § 219. Accessed 2026-09-28.
5
California Insurance Code §1763. California Legislature; §1763(a): diligent search; (h)(1): defined commercial-insured written disclosure and subsequent request; (h)(2): broker eligibility responsibility and reasonable good-faith reliance. Accessed 2026-09-28.
6
California Insurance Code §1760.1. California Legislature; §1760.1(b): commercial-insured definition at placement, risk manager, prior premiums and size criteria with periodic monetary adjustments; (o): qualified risk manager. Accessed 2026-09-28.
7
California Department of Insurance. California Department of Insurance; Official agency homepage. Accessed 2026-09-28.
8
Company and Agent/Broker Information. California Department of Insurance; State page linking license-status checks, company information, and surplus-line insurer resources. Accessed 2026-09-28.
9
Consumer Complaint Center. California Department of Insurance; Consumer Complaint Center entry point to file an insurance complaint. Accessed 2026-09-28.
10
Commercial Insurance Guide (Form 700, revised June 14, 2024). California Department of Insurance; Form 700 revision beneath heading; What Should I Expect from a Broker-Agent: CDI licensing role (line 333); Surplus Line Insurance: broker disclosure, limited CDI jurisdiction and CIGA exclusion (lines 448–449); Talk to Us: consumer hotline (line 942). Page retrieved September 28, 2026; revision date is not an access date. Accessed 2026-09-28.
11
2024 Annual Report of the Commissioner. California Department of Insurance; Page 169: surplus-line brokers pay 3.00% of surplus-line premiums under CIC § 1775.5. Accessed 2026-09-28.
12
Export List Hearings. California Department of Insurance; CIC §§ 1763 and 1763.1: diligent admitted-market search and commissioner exemption process. Accessed 2026-09-28.
13
California Insurance Code § 1775.5. California Legislature; §1775.5(a) 3% of gross premiums less returns and specified exclusions; (b) entire-premium rule and separate interstate-motor-transit deductions; (e) defined blended finite-risk and risk-financing terms. Accessed 2026-09-28.
14
15 U.S.C. §8201: Reporting, payment, and allocation of premium taxes. U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Law Revision Counsel; §8201(a) exclusive home-State premium-tax authority; (b)(1) interstate allocation procedures; (c) allocation reporting. Accessed 2026-09-28.
15
15 U.S.C. § 8205: Streamlined application for commercial purchasers. U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Law Revision Counsel; §8205(1)-(2): broker disclosure that admitted insurance may or may not be available with greater protection and oversight, then purchaser written request; ECP eligibility separately defined in §8206(5). Accessed 2026-09-28.
16
15 U.S.C. § 8206, Definitions. U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Law Revision Counsel; §8206(5) ECP eligibility including qualified risk manager, prior premiums and adjusted size/other criteria; (6) home State and affiliated-insured rules; (13) qualified risk manager. Accessed 2026-09-28.
17
California Insurance Code § 1760.5. California Legislature, Legislative Counsel; §1760.5(g): premiums placed under the special-lines license are not subject to the §1775.5 broker tax. Accessed 2026-09-28.
18
CDI FS-006, Surplus Line Broker and Special Lines Surplus Line Broker Insurance (Premium) Tax Return Instructions, revised 2025-11, calendar-year 2025. California Department of Insurance; Calendar-year 2025 instructions revised November 2025; page 2, lines 1–4: fees, outside-US risks, returns and 3%; page 5: allocation percentages informational. Accessed 2026-09-28.
19
Association Constitution. Surplus Line Association of California; ArticleXV(1) Stamping Office filing function; XV(4) Commissioner-delegated duties subject to approved Plan of Operations. Accessed 2026-09-28.
20
About the Department. California Department of Insurance; Department overview: insurer solvency oversight, agent/broker licensing, company market-conduct reviews, complaints, and insurance-industry regulation. Accessed 2026-09-29.
21
California Insurance Code §1763.1. California Legislature; §1763.1(a): Commissioner order after public hearing and statutory findings; Export List exemptions retain confidential written report; restricted classes and continuing review. Accessed 2026-09-29.
22
Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
23
Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
24
Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
25
Legal Information. Gallagher Small Business; Producer identification immediately above Quick Links. Accessed 2026-09-16.
26
About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
27
Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
28
Licenses & Disclosures. RiskCube; Property & Casualty Producer/Broker Licenses; February 11, 2026 version. Accessed 2026-09-16.
29
Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
30
Hartford Fire Insurance Company. California Department of Insurance; NAIC 19682; California Company ID 0085-1; authorized 01/07/1870; license status UNLIMITED-NORMAL; property and casualty; Connecticut domicile. No expiry/renewal field. Accessed 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
31
Company Profile — Travelers Indemnity Company (The). California Department of Insurance; NAIC 25658; California Company ID 4772-0; authorized 06/17/2002; license status UNLIMITED-NORMAL; property and casualty; Connecticut domicile. No expiry/renewal field. Accessed 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
32
Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

California Crime Insurance Guide

What Is Crime Insurance?

California Crime Insurance Requirements

What Should You Watch for With Crime Insurance in California?

EAFC protection depends on what you hold in escrow

Trust-money access determines whose fidelity coverage matters

Keep the escrow surety bond separate from fidelity protection

Which Crime Insurance Providers Have California License Records?

Coalition

Corgi

Gallagher

RiskCube

The Hartford

Travelers

Vouch