DOCUMENTARY CREDIT
Letter of Credit
A Documentary Credit (DC) is a written undertaking by a bank at the request of an importer/buyer in favour of an exporter/seller whereby the bank
agrees to pay against bills of exchange and/or documents that comply with the terms and conditions of the documentary credit.
Documentary Credit (DC) is also known as Letter of Credit (LC).
What this is
Reducing risk in international trade
Exporters have a risk in that their buyers do not pay for the goods that they have shipped. Imports have the risk that their supplier does not deliver the goods once they have paid for them.
A letter of credit can be used to guarantee payment to the exporter while simultaneously assuring the importer that payment will not take place until the exporter has shipped the goods.
Simplicity
A convenient way for the importer to know that goods have been shipped before payment will be made
Convenience
The exporter is relieved of the administrative burden of collecting the proceeds, handling correspondence and any follow-up action that needs to take place. The importer is given the opportunity to prove to the exporter that payment will be made on all shipments
Security
The goods are controlled until the importer commits to pay for the shipment. The issuing bank will be responsible to ensure that the terms and conditions of the letter of credit are adhered to