Factors like the relation between a buyer and a seller, economic conditions, nature of transactions, national and international trade, etc. often decide the fate of trading. If there is discord among any of these factors, traders are likely to incur a loss unless they have financial security like a Letter of Credit or LC discounting to fall back on.
Letter of Credit discounting is a primary method of financing in international trade and is also known as a documentary credit. Fundamentally, it is a guarantee provided by a financial institution to pay sellers on behalf of buyers in case of default on their part. Letter of Credit discounting serves as financial security for businesses involved in either export or import or both.
LC discounting is considered to be a typical funding option as financial institutions follow a mandatory verification process to confirm the authenticity of both the parties. Also, the chance of manipulating the discounting rate is minimal as only the prevailing rates apply to a Letter of Credit.
In a broader sense, there are 5 types of Letter of Credit –
It is considered to be an uncommon Letter of Credit as it can be changed or cancelled by a banking institution at any time and for any reason. It cannot be transferred to a third party.
This Letter of Credit can only be changed or cancelled if all concerned parties agree to it. Typically, an irrevocable Letter of Credit is considered to be more secure than revocable ones.
A transferable Letter of Credit can be transferred from one beneficiary to another. Such an LC is used when intermediaries partake in a transaction.
When an advising financial institution trusted by the seller guarantees payment from the buyer, a Letter of Credit is confirmed. A confirmed irrevocable Letter of Credit is more secure than the unconfirmed ones as it is backed and guaranteed by both the issuing and confirming bank.
In the case when a letter of credit reaches the beneficiary with only the issuing bank's payment undertaking, without any confirmation added by another financial institution is known as an unconfirmed letter of credit.
Besides these, other Letters of Credit include – standby Letter of Credit, revolving Letter of Credit and back-to-back Letter of Credit.
The pointers mentioned below offer a fair idea about how an LC discounting works –
It must be noted that exporters can get the LC discounted in any of these situations –
LC discounting services in India provide quick and assured access to funding in times of need, making it a preferred financial tool among business entities.
These are key benefits of LC discounting –
Though there are several benefits of LC discounting, exporters need to become familiar with its limitations as well. If they do not find LC discounting a feasible option, they may consider alternative funding options to keep their operations active until the importer pays off.
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The table below highlights the significant differences between LC discount and bill discount.
Parameters |
Letter of Credit Discounting |
Invoice discounting |
Definition |
It is a financing process wherein, a lender purchases the bills or documents of export and pays the amount after deducting the applicable LC discounting charges. |
It is a financial facility which enables businesses to leverage their accounts receivable to avail a loan. |
Purpose |
A Letter of Credit serves as a safety net and assures payment for export items. In case of default or immediate funding requirement, exporters can use LC to receive payment for the goods sold. |
It helps business entities to quickly access funds and helps to meet immediate working capital needs. |
Process |
To discount a Letter of Credit, exporters need to raise a request to their bank and submit the required export documents. |
Businesses need to reach out to an invoice discounting provider to raise funds against the outstanding invoices. |
Issuer or discounter |
Only banks can issue a Letter of Credit and discount the same. |
Any financial institution, bank or individual lender can discount an invoice. |
With this understanding of LC discounting and its alternative funding options, individuals can make an informed decision when resorting to raising finance for their export/import business.