What is the purpose of a surety bond?

A surety bond serves the purpose of providing a guarantee to the obligee (the party who requires the bond) that the principal (the party who purchases the bond) will fulfill their obligations as outlined in a contract. In this context, the correct answer focuses on the role of a surety bond in protecting against potential losses caused by the principal's failure to meet their responsibilities, such as in cases of employee fraud. If an employee engages in fraudulent activities, the surety bond can offer financial compensation to the affected party.

The other options relate to different types of financial instruments or protections that have different purposes. For instance, covering property damages is usually addressed through property insurance, while loan repayments are guaranteed through financial products like secured loans or guarantor agreements. Ensuring building code compliance is typically handled by permitting processes and inspection rather than through a surety bond. Each of these options pertains to distinct forms of risk management and financial assurance, but the surety bond specifically ties to safeguarding against the risk of employee misconduct.