Small-business customers of Zurich North America now can pay their insurance premiums online.

Using an account number, e-mail address, and bank account number, commercial policyholders can register to pay premiums online at Zurich's Web site, which uses an electronic billing system called inetBiller from Atlanta-based Derivion, an e-billing company.

Zurich sends an e-mail to customers when their bills are ready for payment. Customers then must visit the secure Web site and authorize Zurich to withdraw money from their bank accounts, or schedule the payment for a later date. (However, the system does not allow automatic withdrawal from customers' accounts; policyholders must visit the site each time they wish to pay their premiums.)

Once a policyholder clicks the button to pay, the online billing program encrypts the account information and sends it via a secure connection to the policyholder's bank. If there is not enough money in the account, or another problem arises that prevents payment, the policyholder is notified via e-mail.

Beyond online premium payment, Zurichs website also provides access to several additional services for its customers. These include, "RiskAccess", a program that allows insureds to view current claim information and adjusters notes online; "RiskImage", a program that allows customers to view claim documents online; and Zurich Risk Intelligence Exchange which allows customers to view loss data from your past and present carriers.