Stewart Title Guaranty Co. announced the Stewart Trusted Provider Program to give lenders, Realtors, homebuyers and sellers more reassurance when dealing with real estate services.

Lenders, Realtors, homebuyers and sellers tend be wary of independent attorney agents and agencies, due to a high concern of fraud in the title and lender industry, the company said.

In lieu of this, the new program gives a seal of approval to companies that meet their requirements, helping businesses become verified and validated.

“The Stewart Trusted Provider seal shows that agencies and attorney agents are a trusted provider of real estate settlement services, and is proof of the elite status they have attained,” said George Houghton, group president, agency operations.

Requirements to qualify for the deal include: passing an intensive initial due-diligence screening, conducting business according to a stringent independent agency standard and undergoing strict ongoing monitoring.

He added, “It is our effort to continue to raise the bar for independent agencies and attorney agents in our network, and to elevate the professionalism and credibility of the title industry as a whole. And, to protect the investments of our customers.”