Important Notice Insurance
Launching the Transition of Surety Bonds
April 29, 2011

Background
As mentioned in previous communications, Roanoke Trade has entered into a new managing general agent partnership with American Alternative Insurance Corporation (AAIC) for customs and other transportation-related bonds. While Roanoke Trade will maintain its secondary customs bond markets for excess capacity needs, we are transitioning all Washington International Insurance Company (surety code 891) and Navigators Insurance Company (surety code 572) bonds to AAIC (surety code 036).

Also as mentioned previously, the transition will phase in over a 12 month period starting with July bond renewals.

We are Ready and Here is What you Need to Know
  • The week of May 2, 2011-Roanoke Trade will begin the preparation and replacement of Navigators CTBs moving to AAIC-starting with all bonds renewing in July 2011.
  • Roanoke Trade's bond service teams will begin processing the bonds and communicating with clients as required to obtain any necessary information.
  • Monday, May 9, 2011-we will turn on our FastBondTM enhancements for our clients, to make this replacement process completely transparent to you and your users.
  • One of the most significant enhancements you will see is a CTB Control Center where you will be able to monitor our replacement progress every step of the way.
  • Training videos on these new FastBondTM features will be emailed to you next week so that you may have a 'sneak peak' at the new features before they go live. We will also make ourselves available for online training for you and your colleagues.
  • Customers Utilizing FastBond for STBs: Single transaction bonds will be changed to AAIC bonds within FastBondTM automatically in 2 to 4 weeks. We will notify you as to when you can add surety code 036 to your ABI software.
  • Customers Not Utilizing FastBond for STBs: If you have obtained approval to print Roanoke Trade's AAIC single transaction bonds out of your ABI software, you may start using this new AAIC bond form anytime beginning June 1 but no later than June 15. Also, remember to change your ABI software to surety code 036.
  • If you need to obtain the AAIC bond form for incorporation into your ABI system, please contact Jennifer Rome or Andrea Beto at 1-800-ROANOKE; or you may email fastbond@roanoketrade.com.
  • We have already provided the new AAIC bond form to FourSoft, IES, Kewill, SmartBorder and Xtheta.
  • If a bond will not be replaced with AAIC, please advise us at least 30 days in advance of the bond anniversary date. CBP has requested all terminations for existing bonds be submitted by Roanoke Trade along with the replacement CTB packages. CBP accepts termination requests with as much as 60 days advance notice-you do not need to wait until the anniversary.
  • We will not start transitioning Washington International bonds until July 2011 for September renewals.

We are excited about adding AAIC, rated "A+" (Superior) by A.M. Best Company as a surety source and about the systems enhancements we have developed to improve our service to you. We will present more tools to you within the coming months as a result of this new surety partnership, and we look forward to sharing them with you!

Please contact us with any questions or service needs. We will be in touch with your company regularly-60 to 90 days prior to all monthly renewals.

Once again, thank you for working with Roanoke Trade.


Roanoke Trade Services, Inc.
phone: 1-800-ROANOKE