Letter of credit

This query is : Resolved

Querist : Anonymous

Querist : Anonymous (Querist)

18 January 2012 Dear Experts
Can you please explain the Concept of letter of credit and what are all the types of LC with explanation.

Thanks in advance.

Suresh G

Suresh G (Expert)
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18 January 2012 Letter of Credit(LoC) is used to finance for short term credit purposes ..Eg.Shipping Gurantee for Export purpose etc.

LoC are two types based on Security:
1. Revocable LoC
2. Irrevocable LoC

In case of Revocable LoC the Banker/Importer can revoke or cancel the LoC at any time and for this reason Banks(Exporter) wont undertake the Revocable LoC for Funding generally.

In Case of Irrevocable LoC the Exporter is Guranteed of remitting the Money against the order backed by LoC of Import(Banker).

There is a system of SWIFT code followed for Electronic Data Exchange in Banking system to Facilitate easy process of LoCs.
SWIFT = Society for World Wide Interbank Financial Telecommunication.

Thanks,
Suresh.

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RAMESH KUMAR VERMA

RAMESH KUMAR VERMA (Expert)
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18 January 2012 Letter of Credit L/c also known as Documentary Credit is a widely used term to make payment secure in domestic and international trade. The document is issued by a financial organization at the buyer request. Buyer also provide the necessary instructions in preparing the document.

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in the Uniform Custom and Practice for Documentary Credit (UCPDC) defines L/C as:

"An arrangement, however named or described, whereby a bank (the Issuing bank) acting at the request and on the instructions of a customer (the Applicant) or on its own behalf :

1. Is to make a payment to or to the order third party ( the beneficiary ) or is to accept bills of exchange (drafts) drawn by the beneficiary.
2. Authorised another bank to effect such payments or to accept and pay such bills of exchange (draft).
3. Authorised another bank to negotiate against stipulated documents provided that the terms are complied with.

Types of Letter of Credit
1. Revocable Letter of Credit L/c

A revocable letter of credit may be revoked or modified for any reason, at any time by the issuing bank without notification. It is rarely used in international trade and not considered satisfactory for the exporters but has an advantage over that of the importers and the issuing bank.

There is no provision for confirming revocable credits as per terms of UCPDC, Hence they cannot be confirmed. It should be indicated in LC that the credit is revocable. if there is no such indication the credit will be deemed as irrevocable.
2. Irrevocable Letter of CreditL/c

In this case it is not possible to revoked or amended a credit without the agreement of the issuing bank, the confirming bank, and the beneficiary. Form an exporters point of view it is believed to be more beneficial. An irrevocable letter of credit from the issuing bank insures the beneficiary that if the required documents are presented and the terms and conditions are complied with, payment will be made.
3. Confirmed Letter of Credit L/c

Confirmed Letter of Credit is a special type of L/c in which another bank apart from the issuing bank has added its guarantee. Although, the cost of confirming by two banks makes it costlier, this type of L/c is more beneficial for the beneficiary as it doubles the guarantee.
4. Sight Credit and Usance Credit L/c

Sight credit states that the payments would be made by the issuing bank at sight, on demand or on presentation. In case of usance credit, draft are drawn on the issuing bank or the correspondent bank at specified usance period. The credit will indicate whether the usance draft are to be drawn on the issuing bank or in the case of confirmed credit on the confirming bank.
5. Back to Back Letter of Credit L/c

Back to Back Letter of Credit is also termed as Countervailing Credit. A credit is known as backtoback credit when a L/c is opened with security of another L/c.

A backtoback credit which can also be referred as credit and countercredit is actually a method of financing both sides of a transaction in which a middleman buys goods from one customer and sells them to another.

The parties to a BacktoBack Letter of Credit are:
1. The buyer and his bank as the issuer of the original Letter of Credit.
2. The seller/manufacturer and his bank,
3. The manufacturer's subcontractor and his bank.

The practical use of this Credit is seen when L/c is opened by the ultimate buyer in favour of a particular beneficiary, who may not be the actual supplier/ manufacturer offering the main credit with near identical terms in favour as security and will be able to obtain reimbursement by presenting the documents received under back to back credit under the main L/c.

The need for such credits arise mainly when :

1. The ultimate buyer not ready for a transferable credit
2. The Beneficiary do not want to disclose the source of supply to the openers.
3. The manufacturer demands on payment against documents for goods but the beneficiary of credit is short of the funds

6. Transferable Letter of Credit L/c

A transferable documentary credit is a type of credit under which the first beneficiary which is usually a middleman may request the nominated bank to transfer credit in whole or in part to the second beneficiary.

The L/c does state clearly mentions the margins of the first beneficiary and unless it is specified the L/c cannot be treated as transferable. It can only be used when the company is selling the product of a third party and the proper care has to be taken about the exit policy for the money transactions that take place.

This type of L/c is used in the companies that act as a middle man during the transaction but don’t have large limit. In the transferable L/c there is a right to substitute the invoice and the whole value can be transferred to a second beneficiary.

The first beneficiary or middleman has rights to change the following terms and conditions of the letter of credit:

1. Reduce the amount of the credit.
2. Reduce unit price if it is stated
3. Make shorter the expiry date of the letter of credit.
4. Make shorter the last date for presentation of documents.
5. Make shorter the period for shipment of goods.
6. Increase the amount of the cover or percentage for which insurance cover must be effected.
7. Substitute the name of the applicant (the middleman) for that of the first beneficiary (the buyer).

Standby Letter of Credit L/c

Initially used by the banks in the United States, the standby letter of credit is very much similar in nature to a bank guarantee. The main objective of issuing such a credit is to secure bank loans. Standby credits are usually issued by the applicant’s bank in the applicant’s country and advised to the beneficiary by a bank in the beneficiary’s country.

Unlike a traditional letter of credit where the beneficiary obtains payment against documents evidencing performance, the standby letter of credit allow a beneficiary to obtains payment from a bank even when the applicant for the credit has failed to perform as per bond.

A standby letter of credit is subject to "Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credit" (UCP), International Chamber of Commerce Publication No 500, 1993 Revision, or "International Standby Practices" (ISP), International Chamber of Commerce Publication No 590, 1998.

for more information link is:

http://www.crfonline.org/orc/cro/cro-9-1.html

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