The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued comprehensive guidelines to ensure that banks exercise due diligence and maintain transparency and discipline in the issuance of Letters of Credit (LCs). These safeguards are intended to mitigate operational, financial, and reputational risks while preserving the integrity of the LC as a trusted trade finance instrument. Procedural…
In a Letter of Credit (LC) transaction, documentary scrutiny is a vital process undertaken by banks to ensure that the documents presented by the beneficiary (exporter) strictly comply with the terms and conditions outlined in the LC. This examination involves assessing the authenticity, accuracy, completeness, and internal consistency of the submitted documents, in alignment with…
In a Letter of Credit (LC) transaction, multiple parties are involved—each with distinct liabilities, responsibilities, and rights. These parties include the issuing bank, applicant (buyer), beneficiary (seller), and, where applicable, the confirming and advising banks. The central premise of an LC arrangement is that the issuing bank undertakes an irrevocable commitment to pay the beneficiary…
A Documentary Letter of Credit (DLC), often simply referred to as a Letter of Credit (LC), is a widely used instrument in international trade transactions. It represents a formal commitment by a bank, acting on behalf of the buyer (applicant), to pay the seller (beneficiary) upon presentation of specified documents that prove shipment of goods…
(Generally, there are eight parties involved in letter of credit transactions, out of which four principal parties involved in any transaction. This article briefs about four principal parties and other four ordinarily involved in letters of credit transactions). Definition of Letter of Credit: Letter of credit (LC) is an undertaking letter issued by the importer’s…
The process of converting foreign currency liability of the importer into Indian Rupee liability is called the crystallization of import LC bills. The idea behind the crystallization of import bills is to transfer the probable exchange risk of a non-retired bill amount in foreign currency to the importer. An LC can be issued either against sight…
We all know that in the international trade of goods and services transactions takes place between the people belonging to different continents, languages, culture, and laws. Since the language used for communication of terms and conditions of LC may suggest different meaning in different parts of the world, people across the world realised the need…
(This post explains about LC on Sight Payment and LC on Usance terms, LC (Inland) and LC (Foreign), Freely negotiable and Restricted Letters of Credit, Uniform Customs and Practice (UCP) for Documentary Credits.) Definition of Letter of Credit: Letter of credit (LC) is an undertaking letter issued by the importer’s (buyer’s) bank wherein the seller…
Letter of credit (LC) also known as Documentary credit is an undertaking from a bank on behalf of its customer (importer/buyer) wherein the beneficiary (exporter) is fully assured of payment provided he fulfills his part of the sale contract embodied in Letter of Credit. To understand LC mechanism, let us take an example of a…
In simple words, the process of converting foreign currency liability of the exporter into Indian Rupee liability is called ‘crystallization of foreign currency export bills’. The purpose of crystallization is to transfer the exchange risk involved in a belated receipt of export bill payment to the exporter. The export bills negotiated/purchased/discounted by a bank are…
