Commercial Underwriting Checklist

Create the account in Applied Epic or AMS360 and attach the ACORD 125 plus any line-specific supplementals (130 for WC, 140 for property, 137 for auto). Confirm producer of record and effective date before routing to the underwriting queue.

Look up the producer's NPN on NIPR and confirm an active resident or non-resident license in the state of risk for the lines being quoted. Carrier appointment must be in place before bind — binding without appointment can void the transaction and trigger a market-conduct finding.

Cross-check SIC/NAICS code, hazard grade, and exposure size against the carrier's appetite guide. Flag classes that fall outside guidelines for early decline rather than working a submission that won't bind.

Send a written decline citing the appetite reason. Document the decline in the AMS for fair-underwriting recordkeeping; close the submission without continuing to risk evaluation.

Request currently-valued loss runs from each prior carrier in the lookback window. Watch for gaps in coverage history, prior non-renewals, or open claims that change the loss-pick.

For property and auto exposures, pull LexisNexis CLUE and MVRs on all listed drivers. Reconcile CLUE-reported losses against the application — undisclosed losses are a material misrepresentation issue, not just a rating issue.

Reconcile payroll, sales, and square footage on the ACORD with the most recent financials and the insured's website. Auto-populated renewal data drifts from current operations over multiple cycles — verify the numbers, don't inherit them.

For workers comp, pull the NCCI or independent-bureau e-mod worksheet and verify class codes against governing-class rules. In monopolistic and independent-bureau states (NY, NJ, DE, PA, CA, MA, MN, MI, WI, TX) the bureau filing posture differs from NCCI states.

Property TIV over the carrier's threshold, restaurants, manufacturing, and habitational risks typically trigger a mandatory loss-control survey. Order the inspection through the carrier's vendor and attach recommendations to the file before bind.

Coordinate with the loss-control vendor and the insured's site contact. Build the inspection date into the bind timeline — surveys returning recommendations after bind create endorsement and subjectivity-tracking work.

Screen the named insured, all DBAs, additional insureds, and individual owners against the OFAC SDN list. Save the cleared screening result to the file — OFAC must be re-run at every premium and claim payment, not just at bind.

Verify in SERFF whether the rate and forms being used are filed and effective in the state of risk. Prior-approval states require the filing to be approved before use; pushing an unapproved rate creates an unauthorized-rate exposure.

For E&S placements, confirm the wholesale broker has documented the diligent-search effort and that surplus-lines tax and stamping-office filings are queued for the state's post-bind window (commonly 30–60 days). Compliance ultimately rests with the producer of record.

Run the account through the rating engine (PolicyCenter, Duck Creek, EZLynx Rating, or carrier portal). Apply schedule credits and debits with documented rationale — unsupported schedule mods are a market-conduct finding and an E&O exposure.

Choose occurrence vs claims-made where applicable, set retro date and ERP terms, and apply mandatory state endorsements. Attach the TRIA disclosure and document accept/reject for commercial property exposures.

Compare the indicated premium, limits, and hazard grade against the underwriter's binding authority letter. Anything outside authority — line, limit, class, or schedule mod range — must be referred up before quote release.

Include the rating worksheet, loss summary, exposure narrative, and the specific authority point being exceeded. Track sign-off in the AMS so the audit trail shows who authorized the variance.

Send the formal quote with subjectivities clearly listed — signed application, signed TRIA, loss-control recommendations, premium financing agreement if applicable. Mark indications as non-binding; only quotes are bindable.

Walk the subjectivity list one by one against the file before issuing the binder. Open subjectivities at bind are the leading source of post-bind cancellation and producer disputes.

Set the WC and GL premium audit on the carrier's calendar (typically 30–60 days after expiration) and add a renewal review task at T-90 from expiration. Set state-specific non-renewal-notice reminders — NY 45–60 days, CA 45 days for personal auto, FL 45–120 days depending on line.