Western Surety Company is an insurance company based in Sioux Falls,

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state in the North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native American tribes, who comprise a large po ...

. It was founded in 1900 by attorney

Joe Kirby Joe Kirby (October 5, 1863 - February 8, 1926) was a self-educated son of Irish immigrants who became an important figure in South Dakota history. He helped shape South Dakota law in its formative years, started one of the preeminent law offices ...

who periodically needed court bonds in connection with his law practice. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, the company was run for decades by four generations of Kirbys. In the mid 20th century it was one of the larger employers in the city. It was also the national leader in the area of small, miscellaneous fidelity and

surety bonds In finance, a surety , surety bond or guaranty involves a promise by one party to assume responsibility for the debt obligation of a borrower if that borrower defaults. Usually, a surety bond or surety is a promise by a surety or guarantor to pay ...

. The company's unique approach focused on service and convenience. The Kirby family sold the business in 1992The Argus Leader, March 26, 1992, page 1 and it is now part of CNA Surety. It still employs several hundred people in downtown Sioux Falls.

References

{{reflist Companies based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota Financial services companies established in 1900 Insurance companies of the United States 1900 establishments in South Dakota