What Is a SLOC (Standby Letter of Credit)?
A standby letter of credit (SLOC) is a legal document that guarantees a bank’s pledge to pay a seller if the buyer–or the bank’s client–fails to meet the terms of the agreement.
A standby letter of credit allows international trade between businesses unfamiliar with and operating under different norms and regulations.
A SLOC does not promise that the buyer will be pleased with the products, even though the consumer is guaranteed to receive the things and the seller is guaranteed to receive money.
SBLC is an abbreviation for a standby letter of credit.
What does a Standby Letter of Credit entail?
A firm often seeks a SLOC to assist it in obtaining a contract. The arrangement is a “standby” agreement, which means that the bank will only have to pay in the worst-case situation.
Although an SBLC assures payment to a seller, the terms of the agreement must be strictly fulfilled. For example, a shipment delay or misspelling of a company’s name might result in the bank refusing to complete the payment.
The process of acquiring an SBLC is identical to applying for a loan. The buyer begins applying for an SBLC at a commercial bank. Based on historical credit history and the most recent credit report, the bank will do due diligence on the buyer to determine its creditworthiness.
The bank may demand the buyer to put up collateral if the buyer’s creditworthiness is questioned, asset or money as collateral before proceeding with the deal.
The quantity of collateral required will be determined by the degree of risk involved, the soundness of the firm, and the amount secured by the SBLC.
The buyer must also provide the bank with vendor information, shipping papers, and payment instructions: the beneficiary’s bank and the SBLC’s validity period.
After reviewing the papers, the commercial bank will issue an SBLC to the buyer. The bank will levy a service fee ranging from 1% to 10% each year that the financial instrument stays valid.
If the buyer achieves all of its contractual obligations before the due date, the bank will cancel the loan SBLC without charging the buyer any further fees.
Suppose the buyer fails to meet the terms of the contract for various reasons, such as bankruptcy, cash flow crunch, dishonesty, and so on.
In that case, the seller must present all of the required documentation listed in the SBLC to the buyer’s bank within a specified period, and the bank will make the payment due to the seller’s bank.
Standby letters of credit are classified into two types:
A financial SLOC assures payment for products or services as agreed upon. For example, an oil refining business may prepare a letter to convince a crude oil seller to pay for an ample supply of crude oil.
The performance SLOC, which is less prevalent, ensures that the customer will carry out the project following the contract requirements. If its customer fails to finish the project, the bank must pay the third party.
The application process for a SLOC is identical to that of a loan application. The bank only issues it after evaluating the applicant’s creditworthiness.
If a firm declares bankruptcy or ceases operations, the bank that issued the SLOC will pay its client’s obligations. Each year that the letter is valid, the client pays the price.
Typically, the cost ranges from 1% to 10% of the entire obligation every year.
1. SBLC in finance
The financial-based SBLC ensures payment for products or services specified in the agreement.
For instance, if a crude oil company supplies oil to a foreign customer assuming that the buyer would pay within 30 days of shipping and the payment If payment is not received by the due date, the crude oil supplier may seek payment from the buyer’s bank.
Because it is a credit, the bank will collect the principal and interest from the buyer.
2. SBLC performance
A performance-based SBLC ensures that a project is completed within the timeframes specified.
If the bank’s customer cannot finish the project described in the contract, the bank guarantees to refund the contract’s third party a certain amount of money.
Construction projects, for example, use performance SBLCs to finish projects within a specific time range. The payment is a penalty for project delays, and it is used to reimburse the client for the inconvenience or to pay another contractor to take over the project.
Also Read: banking accounts for bad credit
A Standby Letter of Credit’s Definition
In international trade, a standby letter of credit is frequently necessary to assist a company in obtaining a contract. Because the contract’s parties do not know each other, the letter boosts the seller’s trust in the deal.
It is seen as a sign of good faith since it demonstrates the buyer’s creditworthiness and capacity to pay for products or services even if an unanticipated occurrence happens.
When establishing an SBLC, the buyer’s bank conducts an underwriting responsibility to evaluate the buyer’s creditworthiness.
When the buyer’s bank determines that the buyer has acceptable credit, the bank notifies the seller’s bank, assuring the seller of its promise to reimburse.
If the buyer fails to comply with the terms of the agreement, the seller will be held liable. It demonstrates the buyer’s capacity to make payment to the seller.
A Standby Letter of Credit’s Advantages
The SLOC is frequently encountered in contracts involving foreign commerce, typically including a big financial commitment and additional risks.
The most significant advantage for the firm confronted with a SLOC is the possible simplicity of moving out of that worst-case scenario.
If a contract calls for payment within 30 days after delivery and it is not made, the seller may bring the SLOC to the buyer’s bank for payment.
As a result, the vendor is assured of getting compensated. Another benefit for the seller is that the SBLC decreases the customer’s risk of changing or canceling the production order.
An SBLC helps to guarantee that the buyer receives the products or services specified in the agreement. For example, if a contractor requests that a structure be built, and the builder fails to fulfill it, the customer might bring the SLOC to the bank to be repaid.
Another advantage of global trade is that a buyer has greater assurance that the seller will deliver the items.
Furthermore, tiny firms may find competing with larger and more well-known competitors. An SBLC can give credibility to a project offer and can frequently assist avoid an upfront payment to the seller.
