IA credit services organization bonds.
$150 flat.

Iowa regulates credit services organizations — businesses paid to improve a buyer's credit record, history, or rating — under Iowa Code chapter 538A. Before charging fees ahead of full performance, a CSO must obtain a surety bond of at least $10,000 in favor of the state, with a copy filed with the Secretary of State. Ours is $150 flat, the price you see is the checkout price, and the bond issues the moment you pay. Any credit screen is a soft pull only — it never affects your score.

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Required of Iowa credit services organizations under Iowa Code 538A.3 and 538A.4

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Fixed price, fixed amount — $10,000 bond, $150 flat, no quote process

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Multi-year terms available — set it up once for up to 3 years

A-ratedA.M. Best carriersInstantissuance at checkout$150 flatsame price at checkout

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How it works

Three steps. One sitting.

Credit services organization bonds are among the simplest filings in surety. Here's the entire process:

NOW · ONLINE

Apply online

Business details, an effective date, and a term. That is the entire application — no financials, and any credit screen is a soft pull that never shows as a hard inquiry.

INSTANTLY

Pay & e-sign

This bond is checkout-priced at $150 flat, so it issues the moment you pay — your executed bond and power of attorney generate on the spot.

SAME DAY

File with the Secretary of State

Your executed bond arrives by email, ready to file with your credit services organization registration at the Iowa Secretary of State. Wet-ink original mailed on request.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What the bond actually guarantees

Iowa Code chapter 538A governs credit services organizations — businesses that, for a fee, improve or promise to improve a buyer's credit record, history, or rating, or provide advice or assistance about it. Under 538A.3, a CSO may not charge or receive money before full and complete performance of its services unless it has obtained a surety bond or established a surety account — and under 538A.4, a copy of the bond is filed with the Iowa Secretary of State, alongside the registration chapter 538A requires.

It's a three-party arrangement: you (the principal), the surety carrier, and the state (the obligee). The bond runs in favor of the state for the benefit of any person damaged by a violation of chapter 538A — a buyer harmed by prohibited conduct can maintain an action against both the organization and the surety, up to the bond amount.

It is not insurance for you — if the surety pays a claim, you repay the surety. The bond is continuous until the surety cancels it on at least 30 days' written notice to you and the Secretary of State, so it has to stay on file for as long as you operate; we track the term and send renewal notices 60 and 30 days out.

Iowa Code § 538A.4Section 538A.4 of the Iowa Code governs the bond a credit services organization obtains under section 538A.3(1): the bond must be at least $10,000, executed by a surety authorized in Iowa, continuous until canceled on at least 30 days' notice, and in favor of the state for the benefit of any person damaged by a violation of the chapter. A copy is filed with the Secretary of State, which also administers CSO registration under section 538A.5.

You need this bond if you're

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Starting a credit repair business — registering as a credit services organization with the Iowa Secretary of State

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Charging fees before services complete — the bond is what makes advance fees lawful under 538A.3

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Advising Iowa buyers on improving their credit record, history, or rating for compensation

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Renewing or reinstating a registration — the bond must stay continuously on file

One application, issued instantly.

These are the actual issuing fields — business details, an effective date, and a term. That is the entire application.

Start the application →

FAQ

Common questions.

How much is the Iowa credit services organization bond?The premium is $150 flat — set by our carrier's rate book for this bond, the same for every credit services organization. The $10,000 bond amount is set by Iowa Code 538A.4(6), so there is no quote process, and the price you see is the checkout price.

Do I pay the $10,000?No. You pay $150. The $10,000 is the surety's maximum liability if a valid claim is made against the bond — not a deposit, and nobody holds your money.

How fast will I have the bond?This bond is checkout-priced, so it issues the moment you pay — your e-signed bond and power of attorney arrive by email, ready to file with the Iowa Secretary of State.

Is there a credit check?If a credit screen runs on this bond, it is a soft pull only — never a hard inquiry, and it never affects your score. The price stays $150 flat either way.

Who requires the bond, and where do I file it?The requirement comes from Iowa Code chapter 538A, and a copy of the bond is filed with the Iowa Secretary of State — the same office that handles credit services organization registration under section 538A.5. Iowa also allows a $10,000 surety account as an alternative, but most businesses prefer the $150 bond so the $10,000 stays working in the business.

Related bonds

Other Iowa bonds.

Finish your CSO registration today.

$150 flat, issued the moment you pay, soft pull only. Free until issued.

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