Escrow Agent Bond Requirements
Escrow agents need to obtain a surety bond to get their professional license in some states.
If you’re based in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, or Utah, you need to provide an escrow agent bond before you can launch your operations.
Why Is This Bond Required?
The escrow agent bond is a type of license bond. It guarantees you will follow the law in your work as an escrow agent. It safeguards your customers’ interests against unlawful activities you may commit as a part of your escrow agent services, such as forfeiting escrow records and failing to deposit monies.
If a client suffers damages, they can file a bond claim to demand fair compensation. It can be up to the penal sum of your bond.
Need more details on how bonding works? Make sure to consult our in-depth ‘What is a surety bond’ guide.
For further queries, don’t hesitate to call our bonding specialists at 866.450.3412.
What Is the Escrow Agent Bond Cost?
The amount of the escrow agency bond that the licensing authorities set varies from state to state:
- Arizona - $100,000
- California - $25,000
- Idaho - $20,000
- Montana - $100,000
- Nevada - $20,000 - $250,000
- New Mexico - $100,000
- Oregon - $50,000 - $500,000
- Washington - $10,000
- Utah - $10,000 - $50,000
The surety bond cost that you have to pay to get bonded is a small fraction of the amount that state bodies require you to provide. It is called the bond premium.
Factors Determining Your Bond Cost
Your credit score is the factor that affects your bond cost the most. Applicants with a FICO score of 700 or higher typically get a bond rate as low as 1% of the required amount.
The other factors that influence your escrow agent bond premium include:
- Personal and business finances
- Fixed and liquid assets
- Professional experience as an escrow agent
You can see an estimate of your bond cost by credit score in the following table:
| Escrow Agent Bond Cost By Credit Score | |||||
| State and Bond Form | Bond Amount | Bond Cost By Credit Score | |||
| Above 700 | 650-699 | 600-649 | Below 599 | ||
| Washington escrow agent bond | $10,000 | $100-$300 | $100-$300 | $100-$300 | $300-$500 |
| Idaho and Nevada escrow agency surety bond | $20,000 to $250,000 | $200-$600
to $2,500-$7,500 |
$200-$600
to $2,500-$7,500 |
$200-$600
to $2,500-$7,500 |
$600-$1,000
to $7,500-$12,500 |
| California bond of escrow agent | $25,000 | $250-$750 | $250-$750 | $250-$750 | $750-$1,250 |
| Oregon escrow agent bond form | $50,000 to $500,000 | $500-$1500
to $5,000-$15,000 |
$500-$1500
to $5,000-$15,000 |
$500-$1,500
to $5,000-$15,000 |
$1,500-$2,500
to $15,000-$25,000 |
| Arizona, Montana, and New Mexico escrow agent bond | $100,000 | $1,000-$3,000 | $1,000-$3,000 | $1,000-$3,000 | $3,000-$5,000 |
| Utah | $10,000 to $50,000 | $100-$300 to
$500-$1,500 |
$100-$300 to
$500-$1,500 |
$100-$300 to
$500-$1,500 |
$300-$500 to
$1,500-$2,500 |
How to Apply For a Bond
Do you want to apply for an escrow agent bond? You can click on the banner below for your free quote. Then you can buy your bond online straight away.
Have more questions about escrow agent bonds? You can reach our bonding experts at 866.450.3412.
