U.S. Warehouse Act bonds.
Federally licensed storage. From $100.

A warehouse seeking a federal license under the United States Warehouse Act to store agricultural products must file a good and sufficient bond with USDA AMS as a condition of the license. The premium is 0.5% of the bond amount, with a $100 minimum — enter your figure and your exact price appears at the application.

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Required for a USWA warehouse license under 7 U.S.C. §241 et seq. and 7 CFR Part 735

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Amount is set by AMS in your licensing agreement — based on storage capacity and the products stored

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A quick soft credit check may apply — never a hard inquiry, no impact on your score

From $100your exact price at application0.5% rate$100 minimumSoft pullnever affects your score

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How it works

Apply to filed in one sitting.

Your USWA license is waiting on this bond. Here is the whole process:

TODAY · ONLINE

Apply once, online

Warehouse details, the bond amount AMS set, and an effective date. The only extra step is a one-time consent to a soft credit pull.

WITHIN 48 HOURS

Reviewed & approved

Most clear quickly; if underwriting needs anything, you hear from an underwriter within 48 hours. The credit check is a soft pull that never affects your score.

1–2 BUSINESS DAYS

File with USDA AMS

Receive the executed warehouse operator bond ready to file with your USWA license application or renewal. Wet-ink originals mailed on request.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What the warehouse bond actually guarantees

The United States Warehouse Act (7 U.S.C. §241 et seq.) lets a warehouse obtain a federal license to store agricultural products and issue warehouse receipts recognized in interstate commerce. As a condition of the license, the operator must execute and file a good and sufficient bond to the United States with USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service.

The bond stands behind the operator’s obligations to depositors and receipt holders — that the stored commodity will be delivered or accounted for as the receipts and the Act require. AMS administers the program (delegated from the Farm Service Agency in 2018) under the regulations at 7 CFR Part 735.

AMS sets the required amount in your licensing agreement, scaled to storage capacity and the products stored, and recognizes a surety bond as one accepted form of “financial assurance.” It is not insurance for you — if the surety pays a valid claim, you repay the surety.

7 U.S.C. §241 et seq. · 7 CFR Part 735The United States Warehouse Act (7 U.S.C. §241 et seq.) conditions a federal warehouse license on a good and sufficient bond filed to the United States; the implementing regulations are at 7 CFR Part 735, administered by USDA AMS. AMS sets the required amount (or other approved financial assurance) in the licensing agreement, scaled to capacity and the agricultural products stored. Confirm your amount with AMS.

You need this bond if you are

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A warehouse seeking a USWA license to store grain, cotton, or other agricultural products

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Renewing a federal warehouse license whose bond is expiring or was non-renewed

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Increasing licensed capacity so AMS raised your required bond amount

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Choosing federal over state licensing to issue receipts recognized in interstate commerce

One application, issued instantly.

These are the actual underwriting fields, including the warehouse details and a one-time consent to a soft credit pull. Submit once and your bond is typically issued within 1–2 business days.

Start the application →

FAQ

Common questions.

How much is the U.S. Warehouse Act bond?The premium is 0.5% of the bond amount, with a $100 minimum. The amount is set by AMS in your licensing agreement, scaled to your storage capacity and the products you store. Enter that figure and your exact price appears at the application.

Who administers the program?USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service administers the United States Warehouse Act under 7 CFR Part 735. (Administration moved to AMS from the Farm Service Agency in 2018.)

Is this the same as a state warehouse license?No. This is the federal license under the U.S. Warehouse Act, which lets you issue warehouse receipts recognized in interstate commerce. Some operators are licensed by a state instead; the USWA is the federal alternative.

Is there a credit check?A quick soft credit check may apply, which never affects your score — it’s never a hard inquiry. It informs approval only — price is set by the bond amount, at 0.5% of the bond amount ($100 minimum), not by a credit tier.

When does it renew?Terms run 1, 2, or 3 years. We send renewal notices 60 and 30 days out, and the bond (or other approved financial assurance) must stay on file for your USWA license to remain valid.

Related bonds

Other Federal bonds.

Keep your USWA license in force.

From $100, short application, e-signed bond in 1–2 business days. Free until issued.

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Your premiumfrom $100

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