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Surety for New Partners: Onboarding and Tools from Merchants

Surety doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right partner, it can be simple and rewarding.

Merchants Bonding Company™ equips newly appointed agents and surety partners with tools and support to win business and grow quickly. Whether you're placing your first commercial bond or managing complex contract accounts, Merchants helps you do it faster and smarter.

Merchants' common sense underwriting philosophy, fully digital onboarding process, and accessible experienced underwriters mean appointed firms can confidently deliver value from day one. 

Why Choose Merchants for Surety?

Merchants brings deep surety expertise to the table and pairs it with innovative tools and a commitment to first class experiences. We’re not just here to issue bonds — we’re here to be a trusted extension of your agency, helping you deliver fast, reliable solutions to your principals when it matters most. Agents and producers benefit from:

  • Fully digital onboarding — quick and paperless.

  • Common sense underwriting with a personal approach.

  • Multiple digital tech tools to manage bonding your way.

  • RAP  provide instant account approvals up to $1 million with no financials required.

  • Appetite flexibility across Commercial, Contract, and Specialty departments.

  • Expert underwriter support on complex accounts.

Our goal is to help you build lasting client relationships, not just issue one bond.

Tools to Help You Succeed

At Merchants, we make bonding easier through innovative technology built with agents in mind, simplifying workflows and reducing friction across the bonding process. Our team actively and quickly incorporates agent feedback to improve and refine tools that adapt to any agency size or experience level. Whether you're new to surety or scaling a large book, our flexible solutions support bonding at every stage helping you move faster and grow smarter.

The Hub

The Merchants Bonding Company Hub™ streamlines submissions, tracking, billing, and renewals. Everything is managed in one place.

The Hub Express

The Hub Express enables clients to issue their own bonds using a link from your agency. Ideal for offloading transactional business.

API Integration

An API integration embeds the power of the Hub directly into your agency’s systems, creating a seamless, branded experience.

RAP (Rapid Access Program)

Our RAP program delivers credit-only approvals in minutes for qualifying accounts with no financials required. RAP can instantly approve accounts up to $1 million single / $1 million open bond penalty per project, based on credit scores,            

These tech tools give producers and firms the advantage they need to move quickly and scale with confidence.

Recognition and Rewards for Your Growth

At Merchants, we believe strong partnerships deserve strong rewards. That’s why we offer competitive commission structures and recognition programs that celebrate growth, loyalty, and innovation.

  • Leaderboard and Pacesetters: Our loyalty programs recognize top-performing agencies through exclusive rewards, industry advertisements, and relationship-building experiences.

  • Merchants Market Dollars: Earn incentives when you engage with our digital tools, including the Hub, Hub Express, and RAP.

  • Competitive Commissions: Our compensation structure reflects your contribution to long-term, profitable partnerships.

What Is Merchants’ Appetite?

Every account is reviewed individually, but here's a general snapshot of Merchants’ surety appetite:

Bond Category Capacity Guidelines
Commercial Bonds Includes license and permit, notary, fiduciary, ERISA, court, fidelity, and miscellaneous bonds.
Contract Bonds Supports qualified contractors across the United States with capacity based on experience and relationship for bid, performance, payment and maintenance bonds.      
SBA Contract Bonds Offers flexibility for both federal and non-federal projects through the SBA Surety Bond Guarantee Program.
Subdivision Bonds Support a wide range of obligations for developers and municipalities.

This broad appetite supports both early-stage agents and firms scaling their surety capabilities. Merchants also offers customized solutions, including funds administration, for accounts that require surety-backed financial oversight.

Invest in Your Education and Growth

Professional Development Through Merchants University

Merchants University, or Merchants U, is your destination for growing as a surety professional. Whether you're new to surety or looking to sharpen your skills, we offer learning opportunities that meet you where you are.

Within Merchants U, you'll find both virtual and in-person events, including interactive sessions and on-demand webinars. Many Merchants U classes qualify for state continuing education (CE) credit, covering everything from surety fundamentals to underwriting insights and industry updates.

Shareable Content from Talk Surety To Me

Prefer to explore at your own pace? Visit Talk Surety To Me, our online resource designed to help agents and their clients thrive in the surety space.

The site features articles tailored to insurance agents, including how-to guides, bond explanations, and industry insights to sharpen your consulting skills. You’ll also find content created specifically for contractor clients or surety bond principals that can be shared directly, making it easier for you to educate buyers and close business.

Whether you're learning the basics or helping a principal understand bond requirements, Talk Surety To Me gives you quick access to expert-backed content you can trust.

How to Become an Appointed Agent

Merchants' appointment process is fully digital, designed to get you up and running fast. Once appointed, you'll gain access to the Hub, underwriting support, and the full suite of digital tools.

Start the process at https://www.merchantsbonding.com/appointment-inquiry

All information provided is subject to change.