Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Lockton: Commercial Crime Insurance

Lockton places crime and fidelity as a brokered program for nonprofit, private and public organizations, noting small businesses are particularly exposed; Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance includes Commercial Crime in a portfolio form with limits up to $50 million.

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

What Are the Key Differences Between Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Lockton Crime Insurance?

Coverage Structure and Crime Scope

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance lists Commercial Crime in Executive First with D&O, EPL, fiduciary, and employed-lawyer insurance. Lockton arranges crime and fidelity coverage for employee and third-party theft, forgery, computer fraud, counterfeit currency, and social engineering, and says its executive-risk claims team handles claims advocacy. That service may matter when comparing a brokered program with a combined insurer portfolio. [1] [4]

Limits, Eligibility, and Placement

Lockton notes that financial institutions may need a separate financial institution bond rather than general crime coverage. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance targets private companies from $10 million revenue and advertises portfolio limits up to $50 million. Buyers should identify the correct product category first, then compare claims support and whether crime limits are independent. [1] [4]

What Should You Confirm in Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Lockton Crime Insurance Quotes?

  • Ask Lockton whether your business needs crime and fidelity or a financial institution bond, and what claims advocacy is included.
  • Ask Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance whether the crime limit is shared and which claims contacts handle losses.

Crime coverage

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

  • role: BHSI describes Executive First Private Company Portfolio as one comprehensive form combining D&O, EPL, fiduciary, Commercial Crime and employed-lawyer insurance. Portfolio marketing establishes a listed product structure, not a buyer’s entitlement or standalone availability.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: BHSI identifies private companies with at least $10 million in revenue among the portfolio’s target accounts. Portfolio-level target, not a guarantee that a particular applicant qualifies for the crime component.company-reportedSource ↗
  • limits: The portfolio page advertises shared or separate limits up to $50 million. This is a portfolio-wide figure, not a crime-specific limit; the page does not say how limits would be allocated on a specific policy.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: The portfolio page specifically names Commercial Crime as one component of the comprehensive form. The page names the line but does not state its insuring agreements, coverage triggers or relationship to fidelity bonds.company-reportedSource ↗

Lockton

  • role: Lockton places Crime and Fidelity insurance to protect businesses against financial losses from theft, fraud, forgery and embezzlement by employees or third parties; it describes this as a brokered program, not a policy Lockton underwrites. Crime and Fidelity product page as read 2026-09-23.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: Lockton says crime coverage is relevant to nonprofit, private and public organizations of any sector, and calls out small businesses as particularly exposed because they often lack fraud-prevention and auditing resources. It also notes financial institutions are frequently required to carry a financial institution bond, distinct from general crime coverage. Crime and Fidelity product page as read 2026-09-23.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: Lockton lists the claim types a crime and fidelity program is meant to address: employee theft, forgery or alteration of negotiable instruments, theft on or off premises, computer fraud, counterfeit currency, and social engineering (impersonation) fraud involving customers, vendors or employees. Product page as read 2026-09-23; a capability/claim-type list, not a specimen policy.company-reportedSource ↗
  • claims: Lockton says its Professional & Executive Risk Claims team, which integrates insurance and claims counsel within the broking team rather than treating claims advocacy as a separate profit center, handles Crime and Fidelity claims. Product page as read 2026-09-23. Describes Lockton's advocacy role, not an insurer's claim-paying obligation.company-reportedSource ↗
  • insurer: The page does not name the insurers Lockton places crime and fidelity coverage with. Crime and Fidelity page checked 2026-09-23.not-disclosedSource ↗

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance combines crime with executive coverages; Lockton brokers crime and fidelity programs and describes claims advocacy.

Sources consulted

  1. 01
    Executive First Private Company Portfolio

    Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance · Product Highlights, lines 11–15: D&O, EPL, fiduciary, Commercial Crime and Employed Lawyers in one comprehensive form; shared or separate limits up to $50 million; EPL First HR resources and attorney helpline. Top Targets, lines 16–25: private companies with at least $10 million revenue and listed industries. Reopened 2026-09-30. · 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
    Crime and Fidelity Insurance

    Lockton · What is Crime and Fidelity Insurance?; Who needs to purchase Crime and Fidelity Insurance?; Types of Crime and Fidelity claims; Claims management · 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

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