NY public official bonds.
From $100.

The official undertaking New York requires from many elected and appointed officials before they take office — guaranteeing they will faithfully discharge their duties and account for every dollar of public money. Premiums start at $100. The amount you enter is the one your appointing authority set.

✓

Required of town, village, and county officials — clerks, treasurers, tax collectors, and others who handle public funds

✓

Penal sum set by your municipality or by statute for the office — enter that figure and see your price

✓

Premiums start at $100 — a soft credit pull may apply

From $100your exact price at applicationSoft pullnever affects your score0.35%of the bond amount, $100 minimum

Trusted by industry leaders

How it works

Apply, sign, file with your municipality.

A public official bond is light underwriting — a soft credit pull, then issued. Here is the whole process:

TODAY · ONLINE

Apply online

Your details, the office you were elected or appointed to, your obligee (the municipality requiring the bond), and the penal sum it set. That is the application.

SOFT CREDIT PULL

Quick review

This bond carries a soft credit inquiry — it never affects your credit score. It helps confirm approval and where you land in the pricing range.

SAME / NEXT DAY

File with your obligee

The executed bond is delivered for signature and filing with the body that approves it — typically the municipality, and for town officers the county clerk. Wet-ink originals mailed when required.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What the public official bond actually covers

A New York official undertaking — commonly called a public official bond — guarantees that an elected or appointed officer will faithfully discharge the duties of the office and promptly account for and pay over all public moneys and property received in that role. If the official defaults, the bond answers for the resulting damages up to the penal sum.

It is required of a wide range of officials who hold the public trust — town, village, and county clerks, treasurers, tax collectors and receivers, and other officers charged with handling public funds. The exact offices and amounts are set by the Public Officers Law together with the relevant Town, Village, and County Law.

The penal sum is set by your appointing authority — fixed by statute for some offices, otherwise set by the municipality or the board that approves the undertaking. We do not set it; you enter the figure your obligee requires and premiums start at $100.

NY Public Officers Law § 11Every official undertaking must be to the effect that the officer will faithfully discharge the duties of the office and account for and pay over all moneys received. The sum is the amount required by or in pursuance of law; where no sum is fixed by law, the officer or board authorized to approve the undertaking fixes it. A municipal officer’s undertaking is approved by the chief executive or governing body; a town officer’s is approved and filed by the county clerk.

You need this bond if you are

✓

An elected or appointed official — a clerk, treasurer, tax collector, or receiver of taxes taking a town, village, or county office

✓

A custodian of public funds whose office the Public Officers Law or local law requires to post an undertaking

✓

Newly sworn in and asked for a faithful-performance bond before you can take office

✓

Renewing a bond for a continuing term or a re-election

One application, soft pull, then issued.

Submit the application with your office, your obligee, and the penal sum it set. A soft credit pull follows — it never touches your score, and premiums start at $100.

Start the application →

FAQ

Common questions.

How much is the New York public official bond?It depends on the penal sum your appointing authority set for the office. Premiums start at $100 and scale with that amount. Enter the figure your municipality or the statute requires and your exact price appears at the application.

Who sets the bond amount?Your appointing authority — not us. Under NY Public Officers Law § 11 the penal sum is the amount required by or in pursuance of law; where the law does not fix it, the officer or board that approves the undertaking sets it. Use whatever figure your municipality or the office statute states.

Is there a credit check?There is a soft credit pull on this bond. It will not affect your credit score. It helps confirm approval and where you land in the pricing range.

What does the bond actually guarantee?Faithful performance. It guarantees you will discharge the duties of your office and account for and pay over all public moneys and property you handle. If an official defaults, the bond compensates those harmed up to the penal sum — it protects the public, not the officeholder.

Where do I file the bond?With the body that approves your undertaking. For a municipal officer that is generally the chief executive or governing body of the municipality; for a town officer the undertaking is approved by and filed with the county clerk. Your appointment paperwork will name the obligee — enter it on the application.

Related bonds

Other New York bonds.

Public official bond, priced honestly.

Soft pull only, premiums from $100 on the penal sum. Enter the amount your obligee set and file the executed bond with your municipality.

Start application

Your premiumfrom $100

Apply now →