Since 1933, Merchants Bonding Company has grown from a founder-led startup into a national surety leader, all while staying rooted in the Des Moines area. That legacy continues with a 34,000-square-foot expansion of its headquarters in West Des Moines, set to be completed in December 2026. This multimillion-dollar home office project reflects Merchants' growth, and an ongoing investment in the greater Des Moines community.
Merchants Bonding was founded in Iowa during the Great Depression to help small contractors and tradespeople get bonded. The company has focused exclusively on surety bonds ever since, holding an A (Excellent) rating from AM Best since 1958. Merchants now ranks #7 among the top 100 U.S. surety writers, reflecting nearly a century of profitable, national growth.
Graham Construction and OPN Architects are collaborating on the redesign and expansion, with support from Sidekick Development. The new addition gives Merchants room to keep growing and is a direct investment in the talent pipeline and local economy.
Since moving into its current headquarters in 2015, Merchants has grown its home office staff by nearly 40% to 160 associates, with plans to add at least 80 more over the next decade. Merchants also employs more than 100 associates in approximately 30 remote locations throughout the country.
The company’s profitable growth regularly receives national recognition, with honors including top placements on the Ward's 50 list every year since 2020. Merchants is proud to be named a certified Great Place to Work since 2021, and has earned national recognition as a “Best Place for Working Parents” since 2022. Beyond the workplace, the company continues investing in the community through the Merchants Bonding Company Foundation, donating associate time, talent and over $3 million dollars to non-profits and charitable organizations since 2008.
Merchants Bonding’s vision is to become twice the enterprise through innovation and responsible growth. This expansion is a step toward that goal, carrying it into the next 90 years: more room to grow and more capacity to serve agents and their customers.