The letter of credit

The letter of credit is often equated with the documentary credit which it differs by the absence of advising and confirming bank.

This assimilation is an abuse of language that can cause confusion because in many cases the degree of credit risk coverage provided by the letter of credit is lower than the one provided by the documentary credit.

It is therefore important to know precisely the differences between the two tools and when one should be used rather than the other.

The documentary credit involves four players:

• The buyer's bank. This is the issuing bank


• The seller's bank. This is the advising bank and eventually confirming bank.


• The seller. This is the exporting company.


• The buyer. This is the importing company

In this scheme, the seller's bank is not technically indispensable. The issuing bank could send documents directly to the seller without going through this intermediary. If this is the case, this is a letter of credit, not a documentary credit.

The main difference between the letter of credit and documentary credit is the absence of advising bank and (optionally) confirming bank.

Letter of credit process

 Conclusion of contract between the buyer / importer and seller / exporter. In trade negotiations, it was agreed that the payment would be done through a letter of credit.
 Instructions opening. The buyer asks his bank to open a letter of credit. In opening instructions, the customer fills out a form specifying the documents required for the import of the goods.
The buyer's bank verifies the solvency of its customers as well as the signatures on the application form. It also ensures that the instructions are clear and complete.
 Opening. The buyer's bank issues the letter of credit and send it to the seller.

 Shipment of goods. The recipient sends the goods and prepares the documents requested in the instructions of the letter of credit.
 Sending of documents. The beneficiary sends the documents to the issuing bank who verifies that they comply with what was required in the letter of credit. If errors are found, the beneficiary is no longer guaranteed to be paid.
 Customer debit and delivery of documents. The issuing bank debits the buyer of the amount of the letter of credit, less fees and provide him all the documents. The client can then clear the goods and take possession of them.
 Payment. The bank pays the seller, less fees.

Why involve a second bank (the case of documentary credit)?

In the case of the letter of credit, only the issuing bank is involved. The entire risk is therefore based on this bank. Will she honor its commitments? Can be there an arrangement with the buyer who is its client to the detriment of the seller? This is to avoid that risk that most exporters prefer to include their bank in the process and ask them to ensure the entire transaction (the bank is confirming in this case).

In fact, a letter of credit may be an acceptable solution if the issuing bank is a leading bank whose professionalism and impartiality are indisputable. Its advantage is to be much cheaper. Indeed, most of the cost of a documentary credit is the confirmation of the advising bank who handle de facto the entire risk.

The documentary credit will be preferred if there is a significant political risk in the country of the buyer. In this case, the confirmation of the seller's bank covers it against any non-payment because of a political event (war, embargo ... etc.) making the payment impossible to be done.

The confirming banks do not take risk on their own funds, they cover themselves with specialized insurers sometimes used by exporters: single risk insurers.

The letter of credit is a feasible tool when the issuing bank is a bank of very first plan and the country risk where the buyer is located is low.

The letter of credit should not be confused with the standby letter of credit which is a bank guarantee of payment, but in no way a means of payment.