AIG vs Cowbell: Commercial Crime Insurance

Cowbell distributes Zurich's crime module, which Zurich underwrites, only through appointed Zurich wholesalers, for private companies under 250 employees and $50M in assets; AIG markets crime insurance for commercial and governmental entities.

Van Ness Partners presents a practical comparison of source materials relevant to financial crime exposures.Research updated 2026-09-30

Crime coverage

AIG

  • role: AIG markets crime insurance as a risk-bearing insurance product for commercial and governmental entities, separate from its financial-institution bond offering. The policy issuer is not named for a particular buyer. Role in this product is limited to the description on the linked AIG source.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: AIG says its crime insurance is available for commercial and governmental entities. Financial-institution bonds are described separately for banks, non-bank lenders, asset managers and insurance companies. Audience is the segment AIG names on the linked source; this is not an underwriting decision, quote or guarantee of availability.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: AIG describes potential crime coverage for loss of money, securities and other assets from dishonesty, theft or fraud, including computer fraud. AIG links a CrimeGuard Choice sample policy; actual terms and state availability vary. AIG’s public product description is not the policy. Actual entitlement depends on the applicable issued form, endorsements and declarations.company-reportedSource ↗
  • services: AIG identifies a dedicated underwriting team and experienced claims professionals for its Crime and Fidelity business. The page does not promise claim outcomes or specify account-level service terms. The linked page describes company-reported support; specific account services and third-party arrangements must be confirmed.company-reportedSource ↗
  • limits: The reviewed page and linked product overview do not state a standard buyer-specific limit, retention or deductible. Confirm those in the quote and issued policy. This statement reports only what the linked public source discloses and does not substitute for a quote or issued policy.not-disclosedSource ↗

Cowbell

  • role: Crime coverage is one module within Cowbell's distribution of Zurich's Select Plus management liability product; Cowbell operates the platform, Zurich underwrites the module. Zurich's own page lists 'Crime Insurance' as one of the four modules a buyer can combine. Management liability page intro and module list; Zurich page module-name section.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗
  • insurer: Cowbell and Zurich both say the Select Plus modules, including crime, are written on Zurich admitted paper. Zurich's site footer names 'Zurich American Insurance Company' in its copyright notice, but neither page states that entity is the specific policy issuer for this module. Management liability page intro; Zurich page intro and footer.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗
  • eligibility: Cowbell targets this crime module at private companies with under 250 employees and under $50M in assets, across the same target industries listed for the broader Select Plus product. FAQ 'What size accounts are targeted?' and Target industries list.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: Cowbell describes crime coverage as protecting against losses resulting from criminal acts such as theft, fraud, and embezzlement committed by employees or third parties. FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?'.company-reportedSource ↗
  • limits: Neither the Cowbell page nor Zurich's own Select Plus page, both read in full, publishes crime-coverage limit or retention amounts. Cowbell page and Zurich page, both read on 2026-09-23.not-disclosedSource ↗Source ↗
  • services: Neither reviewed page describes crime-specific risk-control services such as employee-dishonesty prevention programs; both describe the Select Plus product's claims backing only at the whole-product level. Management liability page and Zurich page, both read on 2026-09-23.not-disclosedSource ↗Source ↗
  • application: This crime module is accessed only by appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers through the Cowbell platform's API; it is not sold directly to businesses. FAQ 'How can I access the Zurich Select Plus management liability product through Cowbell?'.company-reportedSource ↗

What Are the Key Differences Between AIG and Cowbell Crime Insurance?

A standalone crime offering or a module

AIG markets crime as a risk-bearing product for commercial and governmental entities. Cowbell's crime coverage sits inside Zurich Select Plus, a management-liability product whose modules can be combined; this matters if you want crime alongside other management-liability protections. Ask which modules appear together on the proposed quote. [1] [4]

Who can access the placement

AIG describes commercial and government entities as its audience. Cowbell specifies private companies under 250 employees and $50 million in assets, and says appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers access the module through its API. A business outside those stated size limits should ask AIG about underwriting appetite and Cowbell's wholesaler about eligibility. [1] [4] [4]

What Should You Confirm in AIG and Cowbell Crime Insurance Quotes?

  • For AIG, ask for the exact policy form, covered-event schedule and limits relevant to the differences above. [1]
  • For Cowbell, ask which carrier, endorsements and application route apply to the quoted placement, and confirm the specific terms above. [4]

AIG markets crime as a risk-bearing product for commercial and governmental entities. Cowbell's crime coverage sits inside Zurich Select Plus, a management-liability product whose modules can be combined; this matters if you want crime alongside other management-liability protections.

Sources consulted

  1. 01
    Crime and Fidelity Insurance

    AIG · Official AIG page, lines 242–270 and 353–354: crime-loss examples, commercial/government entity audience, CrimeGuard Choice sample policy/application, and policy/state availability caveat. · accessed 2026-09-30

  2. 02
    Commercial Insurance Guide

    California Department of Insurance · Crime · accessed 2026-09-16

  3. 03
    Social Engineering Fraud Insurance

    Chubb · Opening; coverage highlights · accessed 2026-09-16

  4. 04
    Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises

    Cowbell · FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?' (Crime Coverage definition); Target industries list; FAQ on access and account size · accessed 2026-09-23

  5. 05
    Crime Terms and Conditions

    The Travelers Companies, Inc. · I.A–G, printed/PDF pages 1–4; III.RR, printed/PDF p.13; V.B.1–2, printed/PDF pp.18–20; Consideration, printed/PDF p.1; III.P p.8; V.A.3 pp.16–17; V.A.4 p.17; V.B.3 p.20; I.A.3 p.1; III.C p.7; III.S pp.8–9; III.II and III.KK p.12; III.QQ p.13; V.A.5 pp.17–18 (printed/PDF pages); IV.J–O, printed/PDF pages 14–15 · accessed 2026-09-16

  6. 06
    Crime Non-Financial Applications and Forms

    Travelers · Opening paragraph; Sample Policy Forms · accessed 2026-09-16

  7. 07
    Commercial Crime Coverage Application

    Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America · I–III pages 1–2; IX–XI pages 3–4; V–VII, printed/PDF pages 2–3 · accessed 2026-09-16

  8. 08
    Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus

    Zurich North America · Intro on the Zurich/Cowbell collaboration; module name 'Crime Insurance'; FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?' (identical to Cowbell's page); Targeted industries list; footer copyright · accessed 2026-09-23

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