Surety bonds or fidelity bonds are a type of financial guarantee that businesses use to mitigate risk. Underwriters are the professionals who analyze and rate surety applications by looking at several aspects, including the business’s creditworthiness and risk profile. The underwriting process may seem complicated, but it is only logical. There are three primary aspects of surety bond underwriting: 1) identifying risks; 2) setting premiums and coverage limits, and 3) setting terms and conditions. This article will explain what is surety bond underwriting, its role in risk mitigation, the process associated with it, as well as common challenges associated with it.

What is Surety Bond Underwriting?

Surety bond underwriting is the process that is used to evaluate the risk associated with a particular business and agree to issue coverage. In other words, it is the process of determining the premium and coverage amount for a surety bond. Surety bond underwriting is a critical part of the surety business since it influences the overall financial health of the industry. The first part of the underwriting process is the identification of risks. This part of the process involves understanding the overall risk profile of a business. There are several factors that are taken into account here such as the financial condition of the business, financial history, credit history, industry, and the nature of the underlying contract. After risks have been identified, the next step is to determine appropriate premiums and coverage limits. This step is crucial because it determines the financial health of the industry. Based on the risks identified, an underwriter will set premiums and coverage limits accordingly. When premiums are set too low, the surety’s financial condition is at risk. On the other hand, when premiums are set too high, the bonded party is at risk.

Role of Surety Bonds in Risk Mitigation

The surety industry has been providing risk mitigation services for more than a century. And, the need for such services is expected to grow over time. As the world economy becomes more integrated, the need to share risk becomes increasingly important. The idea behind surety bonding is to create an incentive for a company or individual to behave honestly and ethically by making it financially advantageous to do so. The key is to find the right balance of risk to reward. As an industry, the surety bond business is regulated by government entities, such as the Department of Treasury, the Department of Justice, or the Department of Insurance. As the name suggests, surety bonds are contracts in which two parties are involved – the principal and the surety company. The principal, also known as the obligee, is the party that has requested the issuance of the bond. The surety, also known as the obligor, is the party that has agreed to provide a financial guarantee on behalf of the principal. There are three key aspects in the process of risk mitigation: 

1. Underwriting – identification of risks, 
2. Setting premiums and coverage limits, and 
3. Setting terms and conditions.

Process of Surety Bond Underwriting

The first step in the surety bond underwriting process is the identification of risks. Here, an underwriter will thoroughly review the details of a business’s application for a bond. Once the details of the application have been examined, the underwriter will also look at the business’s overall financial health. Once risks have been identified, the next step is to determine appropriate premiums and coverage limits. Here, an underwriter will again consider the risks identified as well as the business’s financial health. After risks have been identified and premiums have been set, the next step is to consider the business’s credit history. Credit history is a critical factor since it determines the financial strength of the business. Once risks have been identified, premiums have been set, and the business’s credit history has been considered, the last step in the process is to set terms and conditions. Here, an underwriter will consider the nature of the underlying contract and the business’s ability to perform.

Common Challenges in Surety Bond Underwriting

In a highly regulated industry, it is natural for there to be challenges. The surety bond industry is no exception. The following are some of the most common challenges in surety bond underwriting: 

• There is insufficient historical data – Surety bonds are issued to businesses that have had limited or no financial history. In such cases, there is insufficient historical data to accurately assess the risk associated with the business. 
• The business’ financial condition is not strong enough – In such cases, the business does not have sufficient financial strength to ensure payment of the obligations. 
• The financial condition of the business has deteriorated – Here, the business’ financial condition has deteriorated to the point where it cannot meet its obligations.

Key Takeaway

The surety bond industry is highly regulated and takes into account several aspects when underwriting. The role of surety bonds in risk mitigation is significant and expected to grow over time. The industry does face challenges in the form of insufficient historical data, the business’s financial condition, and the financial condition of the business.