Frederick Mutual Insurance Company
Carrier website links, underwriting access points, mapped product lines, and appetite notes in one place.
This appetite summary is only a guide. Confirm eligibility, submission requirements, restrictions, and binding authority directly with the carrier or underwriter before relying on it.
Carrier appetite summary
Overall & Strategic Notes: - Frederick Mutual has repositioned as a regional commercial-lines carrier focused on Secure BOP® for small and mid-sized businesses in MD, PA, VA, DE, DC, and NC. They exited personal lines, selling renewal rights effective Jan 1, 2024; do not submit new personal home/HO business. - Appetite and underwriting in the Agent Guide 2024 are organized by Secure BOP segment: Artisan Contractors, Office/Office Buildings/LRO, Retail, Service, Apartments, and Wholesale & Distributors, plus companion coverages (Umbrella, Auto, cyber, professional, flood, etc.). Geography: - Licensed / writing in: Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia; appetite, payroll tables, and some rating values are state-specific for contractors. - Contractors’ owner/officer minimum payroll varies by state; special higher minimum payroll applies to roofing contractors in all states (e.g., $40,000 per owner/officer as of 4/1/2024). Preferred Business & Target Classes: - Artisan Contractors: Small to mid-size commercial and residential contractors with up to $1,000,000 payroll, at least 3 years in business (or equivalent experience), and no more than 25% of receipts from subcontracted work. Target includes typical artisan trades; detailed class code list in Agent Guide. Strong fit when subcontracted work is limited and operations are light-to-moderate hazard. - Office / Office Buildings / LRO: Office buildings up to 100,000 square feet and 6 stories, with major systems (roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC) updated within last 25 years. Suitable for professional office occupancies (medical, accounting, veterinary, etc.) with stable tenants and good property condition. - Retail: Main street retail businesses up to 35,000 square feet and up to $10,000,000 in annual sales per location, with no more than 25% of gross sales from off‑premises operations. Ideal for typical street‑front retailers without heavy manufacturing or extensive delivery exposure. - Service Industry: General main‑street service businesses (processing and service) that fit Secure BOP property/GL profiles; appetite guide gives specific eligible classes and enhancements. - Apartments: Habitational risks placed on Secure BOP with an Apartments Appetite Guide; typically standard construction, well-maintained properties in their operating states. - Wholesale & Distributors: Small wholesalers/distributors that fit Secure BOP size limits and property/GL profile; details in Wholesale & Distributors Appetite Guide. Companion & Specialty Coverages: - Commercial Umbrella: Intended to sit over Secure BOP and (when written) Frederick Mutual commercial auto; marketed as additional security and liability protection. Use for accounts that already fit standard Secure BOP appetite. - Commercial Auto: Complementary to Secure BOP; used for accounts already written on SBOP when auto exposure is moderate. - Tech Advantage (equipment breakdown), CyberSuite, Employment Practices Liability, Contractors E&O, Miscellaneous Professional Liability, Commercial Inland Flood, Commercial Service Line, and Business Risk Protection (BRP) are available by endorsement or through a third‑party affiliate. These are designed to round out Secure BOP accounts but depend on eligibility/underwriter approval. Key Restrictions / Declined Features (operationally implied from appetite): - Personal lines homeowners and other personal lines business should not be submitted – that book was sold and the carrier is strictly focused on commercial SBOP and related lines. - Contractors with payroll over $1,000,000 or more than 25% of receipts from subcontracted work fall outside standard Secure BOP contractor appetite and require underwriter referral or alternate placement. - Office buildings exceeding 100,000 square feet, more than 6 stories, or with outdated critical systems (older than ~25 years without updates) are outside preferred appetite and likely require referral or declination. - Retail or service risks that exceed 35,000 square feet, $10M annual sales per location, or have substantial off-premises/online/delivery operations (>25% of gross sales) do not fit the standard retail appetite; treat as restricted and refer. - Higher‑hazard contractor classes (e.g., roofing) are written only with special payroll treatment and are likely subject to tighter underwriter scrutiny and possible class‑level restrictions. Submission & Underwriting Process: - Agents use the Frederick online quoting and document platform at frederick.britecore.com to quote and manage commercial lines. - IVANS download is available for commercial lines; e-delivery and DocuSign are standard. - Underwriting contact: Commercial Lines Department via dedicated email; commercial underwriters are positioned as accessible for referrals and appetite questions. - Business Risk Protection (BRP) is automatically attached at inception of each Secure BOP policy; no special submission step, but agents should understand its contract-compliance function for insureds. - For contractor accounts, use the Contractors Payroll & Appetite Guide to apply correct per‑owner/officer payroll minimums by state and class, and to verify class eligibility (some classes require explicit underwriter referral as marked in the guide). Broker/Producer Operational Notes: - The guide emphasizes ease of doing business: simple online quoting, IVANS download, DocuSign, and interactive policyholder app/portal. - Agents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Secure BOP suite, endorsements, and enhancements before marketing; multiple enhancement levels (Secure Plus, Secure Advantage, Contractors Plus, Contractors Advantage) add broadened coverage and should be matched to risk profile. - For appetite questions or borderline classes (e.g., certain installers, service contractors, or mixed‑occupancy buildings), agents are expected to contact Commercial Lines underwriting rather than quote blindly. - Claims are reported via centralized claims email, after-hours phone, or the website/policyholder portal; producers should direct insureds to use those channels. Practical Takeaways: - Submit only commercial SBOP‑eligible risks in MD, PA, VA, DE, DC, and NC; no new personal HO. - Focus on small-to-mid size contractors, offices, main-street retail and service, apartments, and small wholesalers/distributors that meet the published size and operational thresholds. - Use state-specific contractor payroll minimums and verify that subcontracted work, building size/height, and off‑premises sales all fall within the stated limits; otherwise, seek underwriter referral before marketing/quoting. - Round out desirable Secure BOP accounts with umbrella, auto, cyber, EPL, E&O, misc professional, flood, and BRP where appropriate, following any program-specific limitations and affiliate underwriting rules.