Bond Underwriting File Template

A Ready-Made Structure for Your Surety Submission

Your underwriting file is the package of documents the surety reviews when evaluating your bond application, your program renewal, or a capacity increase request. The quality and organization of this file directly affects how quickly the surety responds and how favorably they evaluate your business.

Contractors who keep their underwriting file organized and current are always ready when an opportunity comes up. They do not scramble to pull documents together when a bid deadline is approaching. They hand their bond agent a clean, complete package and the process moves fast.

This template gives you a folder structure and document checklist for building and maintaining your underwriting file. It organizes every document the surety will need into logical categories so nothing gets missed and everything is easy to find.

What the Template Includes

The Bond Underwriting File Template is organized into the following sections.

Section 1: Company Financial Statements. Where to file your CPA-prepared balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement, and notes to the financial statements. The template includes a place for the current year and the two prior years, since most sureties want to see a three-year trend.

Section 2: Personal Financial Statements. A section for each owner or indemnitor, with a place for their personal financial statement, credit authorization, and any supporting documentation.

Section 3: Work-in-Progress Schedule. A dedicated section for your current WIP schedule and any prior versions you want to keep on file for reference.

Section 4: Completed Project List. A section for your project history, organized to show the surety your track record at a glance.

Section 5: Banking Information. A place for your bank reference letter, credit facility documentation, and any letters of credit.

Section 6: Company and Organizational Documents. Articles of incorporation or organization, operating agreements, ownership documentation, business licenses, and perpetuation planning documents.

Section 7: Company Resume and Key Personnel. Your company overview, key personnel resumes, organizational chart, and safety records.

Section 8: Project-Specific Information. A section for the specific project you are bonding, including contract documents, bid details, cost estimates, and project schedules. This section gets updated for each new bond request.

How to Use This Template

Download the template and set up the folder structure on your computer or shared drive. Populate each section with your current documents. Update the file whenever a document changes: new financial statements, updated WIP, new bank reference letter, completed project added to the list.

When you need a bond, hand the file to your bond agent. They will review it, identify anything that needs updating, and submit the package to the surety. The more current your file is when you hand it over, the faster the process moves.

For a detailed explanation of every document in the underwriting file and why it matters, see our Building an Underwriting File page. For the complete list of documents you need, download our Contractor Bonding Checklist.