Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Markel: Commercial Crime Insurance

Markel Insurance lists eCrime within the fraud and unauthorized-use section of its Cyber 360 policy, covering things like fake payment instructions subject to terms; Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance names Commercial Crime as one component of a comprehensive form.

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 Markel Insurance Crime Insurance?

Coverage Structure and Crime Scope

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance identifies Commercial Crime as one part of Executive First, alongside D&O, EPL, fiduciary, and employed-lawyer coverage. Markel’s Cyber 360 page describes eCrime expenses from fraudulent transfers and fake payment instructions, subject to policy terms, but does not establish a separate commercial crime policy. Buyers should decide whether they need a crime form or cyber-linked eCrime protection. [1] [4]

Limits, Eligibility, and Placement

Markel’s eCrime description concerns Cyber 360 policyholders and the exact availability depends on the quote. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance targets private companies from $10 million revenue and advertises portfolio limits up to $50 million. Headline portfolio limits should not be compared with a cyber product’s unreported eCrime sublimit; ask for the actual insuring agreement and limit. [1] [4]

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

  • Ask Markel whether Cyber 360 eCrime applies to your payment-fraud scenario and what sublimit and trigger appear in the quote.
  • Ask Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance for the standalone crime terms, limit allocation, and any discovery or reporting conditions.

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance explicitly names Commercial Crime in Executive First; Markel’s reviewed material describes eCrime within Cyber 360 rather than a standalone crime policy.

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
    Cyber Insurance Coverage

    Markel · Cyber 360 coverage options: media liability; technology professional liability; eCrime; coverages listed within the cyber policy · accessed 2026-09-29

  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

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 ↗

Markel Insurance

  • role: Markel lists eCrime within the fraud and unauthorized-use section of Cyber 360; the reviewed source does not establish a standalone commercial crime policy from this page. Cyber policy component only; not a fidelity bond.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: The page says eCrime may cover expenses from fraudulent activity such as unauthorized money transfers and fake payment instructions, subject to policy terms. Cyber 360 marketing description; does not establish a general crime-form grant.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: Markel describes these resources and coverages for Cyber 360 policyholders; the exact availability and terms require the quoted policy. Policyholder-specific access and policy wording apply.company-reportedSource ↗

Contact Van Ness Partners to discuss controls, exposures and insurance options.

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