Fidelity Bond Insurance

Fidelity Bonds are a very common insurance product for businesses. Designed to insure against fraudulent acts committed by employees, Fidelity Bonds not only protect a business against certain employee activities but also protect customers who may be on the receiving end of those fraudulent acts.

Fidelity Bonds are one of the oldest forms of insurance. They are also a commonly required purchase for certain businesses that desire to open up shop in some states. Many state legislatures have made it impossible to get a business license within that state unless a Fidelity Bond is purchased before submitting an application.

Not to be confused with Errors and Omissions Insurance, Fidelity Bonds specifically targets deceitful acts, not mistakes or oversights. The distinction can sometimes be subtle, but can make all the difference when a claim is filed.

Read on to understand if this type of insurance is right for your business.

At a basic level, Fidelity Bonds are insurance products centered around fraud. All Fidelity Bonds exist to protect you and your customers. Available in different amounts, Fidelity Bonds are designed for two reasons. First, they will be used to reimburse your customers in case one of your employees, or someone you hire out as an independent contractor, conducts themselves deceitfully. Secondly, you can file a claim and seek reimbursement should your business suffer monetary or other asset losses as a result of employee misdeeds.

Monetary theft is the reason why companies purchase Fidelity Bonds and the primary reason they exist. While these bonds carry a dollar value (e.g., some bonds may be worth $500,000), they can cover the value of all assets. While they will insure against theft such as embezzlement, they will also insure against fraudulent acts that lead to the loss of valuable, insured property.

A Fidelity Bond is not put in place as an investment tool for your business. Although the name of this insurance product uses the word "bond," it cannot generate interest, nor can it be traded for its value. It is an insurance product, commonly designed on a "claims made" basis. Depending on the amount of insurance purchased, successful claims will cover the full cost of the losses, up to the limit of the purchased insurance.

The Bond will only cover claims up to the amount written into the policy. This means a Fidelity Bond of $500,000 will only cover that amount. If you must pay an amount beyond this, you will be liable for the amount not covered by the bond. Some bonds are also limited to claims made during the time you hold the policy. Others may allow for claims that relate to theft or fraud that happened at an earlier date.

• Your business' monetary and asset losses
• Either your whole company or select employees
• Subcontractors
• Liability claims made by a customer

Fidelity Bonds can be purchased in various amounts, depending on your need. Coverage costs are typically a small percentage of (anywhere from .5% to 2%) of your total coverage amount. For example, a $500,000 bond at .5% would cost $5,000 to purchase.

This insurance may come in handy if:

• Your company is required to purchase this insurance to get a business license
• Your business has employees who handle financial transactions
• Your business collects personal information from customers
• You operate a business within the financial sector