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California Fidelity Bonds for Independent Escrow Agents

California’s DFPI distinguishes independent escrow agents by transaction type. Agents handling specified real-property, bulk-sale, joint-control, manufactured-home, reservation-deposit, or secured-note escrows must join the Escrow Agents’ Fidelity Corporation (EAFC); agents outside that list must file at least $125,000 in fidelity coverage. EAFC is a member indemnity program, not a state guarantee, and it is distinct from a surety bond. 1,2

What Is Fidelity Bonds?

Fidelity coverage can reimburse certain losses when employees steal money or property they handle. If employees manage company funds, customer property or benefit-plan assets, identify each owner and compare the required protection for each interest. Read the national Fidelity bonds guide.

California Requirements

RequirementDetails
Transaction-based requirementA DFPI-licensed independent escrow agent must determine whether its transactions fall within Financial Code § 17312(c): those categories require EAFC membership; nonlisted transactions require a filed fidelity bond of at least $125,000. 1,2

What to Watch for in California

  • Transaction type determines whether EAFC is the route

    DFPI’s current materials place specified transaction classes into EAFC, which indemnifies members for employee fraud, theft, or embezzlement. The membership route is not the same as a private commercial crime policy and does not guarantee payment by California. 1,2

  • Other transaction types require a filed fidelity bond

    The current DFPI application (Form EL 301, revised March 2025) requires a minimum $125,000 fidelity bond for applicants not required to join EAFC and handling nonlisted transaction types. If the fidelity bond has a deductible, DFPI’s separate EL 303A form supplies a surety bond for the deductible; compare that security obligation with the employee-dishonesty coverage. 2,1

  • A mixed escrow book needs a transaction-by-transaction check

    DFPI says a licensee that is not an EAFC member or processes transactions not covered by EAFC must maintain fidelity bonding. Map each transaction category, confirm membership status, and ask how the filed bond responds to trust obligations held for each transaction. 1,2

  • Escrow protection does not cover a plan just because it holds funds

    If your organization also handles private ERISA plan assets, assess a separate plan bond for the plan officials and property. California escrow requirements do not, by themselves, establish that benefit-plan assets are protected. 3

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. 6,7,8,9,19

Surplus-lines tax and stamping office

Reported tax rate: 3% of taxable premium when California is the insured's home state 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. 10,12,17,9,11,13,14,15,18

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. 11,14,15,4,5,20
  • 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. 12,16,17

Providers With Documented State Licenses

These providers publish a national listing for Fidelity bonds; the state records document licenses for the entities and roles shown below. 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.

  • GallagherArthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, LLCInsurance producer · checked 2026-09-28Gallagher 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. 24
  • TechInsuranceSpecialty Program Group LLCInsurance producer · checked 2026-09-28TechInsurance’s current licensing page names Specialty Program Group LLC / SPG Insurance Solutions and lists state license numbers, but labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses” rather than identifying a license for the named agency. RI is omitted because this disclosure does not establish agency authority there; this is a search limitation, not an assertion that the company is unlicensed. The remaining state entries are company-reported and are not an insurance product availability map. 28
  • TravelersThe Travelers Indemnity CompanyInsurer · checked 2026-09-28California 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. 30
  • VouchVouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLCInsurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28Vouch’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. 31

Questions to Ask Before You Buy in California

  1. Which escrow transaction types do you process, and do they fall within § 17312(c) or outside it?
  2. Are you an EAFC member, and what member limits, exclusions, employee certificates, and claims process apply to your own escrow trust losses?
  3. If a private fidelity bond is required, is the limit at least $125,000, who is insured, and what surety bond secures any deductible?
  4. Do employees or service providers also handle ERISA plan assets that need their own federally compliant bond?

Fidelity Bonds in California: FAQ

Does EAFC membership mean California guarantees a claim? 2

No. DFPI says EAFC is not a state agency and California does not guarantee payment. Ask EAFC for its governing terms and the exact scope of member indemnity. 2

Is the California escrow surety bond the same as fidelity coverage? 2,1

No. The DFPI application separates the fidelity requirement from a surety bond used to secure a deductible. Confirm each instrument’s obligee, protected interest, and trigger. 2,1

Fidelity Bonds in Other States

Other Coverage in California

Sources

  1. California Financial Code § 17312. California Legislative Information; Subdivision (c), listed escrow transaction classes and statutory relationship to EAFC. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. Application for License under the Escrow Law, DFPI-EL 301. California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation; Revision 03-25, page 4 item 11(n): minimum $125,000 for agents not required to join EAFC and handling nonlisted transaction types; page 4 deductible-related surety-bond item. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. 29 U.S.C. § 1112, Bonding. Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives; Subsections (a)-(e), current preliminary edition text. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. California Department of Insurance. California Department of Insurance; Official agency homepage. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  7. 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.
  8. Consumer Complaint Center. California Department of Insurance; Consumer Complaint Center entry point to file an insurance complaint. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. Legal Information. Gallagher Small Business; Producer identification immediately above Quick Links. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  24. 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.
  25. 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.
  26. Licenses & Disclosures. RiskCube; Property & Casualty Producer/Broker Licenses; February 11, 2026 version. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  27. 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.
  28. 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.
  29. 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.
  30. 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.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

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