Education

Do You Have a Bond Request?

Whether you are submitting the bond or executing it, you must first obtain the necessary underwriting information. For ERISA & low limit business, only basic information is needed.

Submitting a Bond Request:

For approval and execution, forward your completed underwriting information to your Regional Office or to the Bond Center by email, fax or regular post.

• Your underwriter will make an underwriting decision.
• When approved you must mail in the original application to your underwriter.
• Your underwriter will execute the bond, mail the original bond and invoice to your attention.

How to Execute a Bond

In order to execute a bond you must have the proper underwriting authority or authority from your Bond Team. Consult your Power of Attorney - Letter of Limitations to determine your authority level. If you need help in determining your authority or you would like to discuss obtaining Power of Attorney, call or email your Regional Office specialist.

• Complete the appropriate bond form accessed from the Target Bonds by State page or received from party requiring the bond (obligee) or by calling the Bond Center (888-656-0817).
• You will need to assign a Hartford bond number to the bond form. Click here to make a request for bond numbers.
• Attach a sealed (mandatory) Power of Attorney form and date the power to coincide with the execution date of the bond.
• Sign the bond. (NY & CA require notarization)
• Affix the Hartford's corporate seal near or on the Attorney-in-Fact's signature.
• Send the original bond to the Principal (applicant), copy for your files, copy to your underwriter along with the original application.

Necessary Underwriting Information

If you know your bond limit and hazard code, this grid can be used as a guide in determining what your underwriting requirements will be. For low limit, less risky bonds complete the first section of the commercial surety application and submit to the Bond Center.

Underwriting Authority and Power of Attorney Privileges

Typically, our preference is to grant authority to agents that execute bonds on a frequent basis or can commit to a certain bond premium volume. Speak with your Regional Office Bond Team about specifics. Two types of authority are assigned with The Hartford's Power of Attorney privileges.

Discretionary Authority is underwriting authority. You may approve and execute bonds within your discretionary/ underwriting authority after an investigation by you reveals that it is a proper risk for the company to assume. The limits of authority are outlined in The Hartford's "Power of Attorney Instructions and Limitations". Any bonds over your underwriting authority would be submitted to the Company for approval.

Signing Authority is displayed on the Power of Attorney form itself. The Power has either a dollar amount or wording that states "unlimited" which gives the individuals named on the Power, the power to execute a bond, not the authority.

Commercial Surety & Fidelity CE Course

Hartford Bond has a nationally approved 3 credit hour course. If you would like to set up a class and have 10 or more agents to participate, contact: pam.damico@thehartford.com.

Glossary of Bond Terms