Federal ERISA Policy All OTHER states Bond
Overview
Get your employee benefit plan covered the right way — a Federal ERISA Bond is a federally mandated fidelity bond that protects plan assets from losses caused by fraud or dishonesty. If you handle funds or other property of an ERISA-covered employee benefit plan, federal law requires you to be bonded. This bond names the plan itself as the protected party and is held by you as the plan fiduciary or handler. Bond Titan makes it fast and simple to get bonded and stay compliant with federal ERISA requirements.
Who Needs This Bond?
Plan administrators, trustees, officers, and any other person who 'handles' funds or property of an ERISA-covered employee benefit plan must carry this bond. That includes anyone who has physical contact with plan funds, authority to transfer or disburse plan assets, or supervisory or decision-making power over those activities. If your benefit plan covers employees in states not served by a state-specific ERISA bond filing, this All OTHER States version is the one you need. You are the principal — the individual or entity bonded — and federal law is the obligee driving this requirement.
What is this Bond For?
This bond protects the assets of an ERISA-regulated employee benefit plan against losses caused by fraud, dishonesty, theft, embezzlement, or forgery by any person who handles those assets. It is a fidelity bond, not a liability policy — it covers the plan against wrongdoing by its own handlers, not third-party claims. Federal ERISA law sets minimum bond amounts tied to the value of plan assets handled, and the bond must cover every person who qualifies as a handler under the statute. When a covered loss occurs, the bond makes the plan whole up to the bond penalty.
When is it Required?
Bonding becomes mandatory the moment your plan handles funds that fall under ERISA coverage and you do not qualify for a specific exemption. For most plan administrators and trustees, this means the bond must be in place before the plan year begins — not after an audit request or DOL inquiry arrives. Operating an ERISA plan without the required fidelity bond is a federal violation that can expose the plan and its fiduciaries to significant penalties. Get bonded before you handle a single dollar of plan assets, not after a regulator asks for proof.
Where Does it Apply?
This is a federal bond governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and its regulations, making it applicable nationwide under federal jurisdiction. The 'All OTHER States' designation means it covers ERISA plan handlers operating in states that do not have a separate, state-specific ERISA bond product in Bond Titan's catalog. It applies wherever the plan operates — the physical location of the business or plan administrator does not change the federal requirement.
How to Buy Online
Click 'Buy This Bond Online' on this page and the secure surety portal will open in a new tab. Enter your plan and handler information, complete the application, and receive your bond documents — no waiting on an agent callback. Your bond is issued through Bond Titan, powered by The Southern Agency, one of the most experienced independent agencies in the country.
Why Bond Titan?
Bond Titan gives you instant access to a nationwide bond catalog without the delays of a traditional agent process. Powered by The Southern Agency, we bring decades of surety expertise directly to an online storefront you can use right now. Buy your Federal ERISA Bond today, get your documents fast, and stay on the right side of federal law.