A North Carolina Appearance Bond-AO 98 (also known as an AO 98 Bond) is a type of surety bond used in the state of North Carolina. It is typically used in criminal cases, in which a defendant is released on bond before a trial. The bond is meant to guarantee that the defendant will appear in court on the scheduled date and time. It is backed by a third-party surety company, such as a bail bond company, and is secured by property or cash. The bond amount is set by the court, and the surety company charges a fee for providing the bond. The bond is legally binding and if the defendant fails to appear, the surety company will be required to pay the full bond amount. There are three types of North Carolina Appearance Bond-AO 98: Release on Recognizance Bond (ROR), Unsecured Bond (U-Bond), and Secured Bond (S-Bond).