Who Bears the Risk? Understanding Issuing vs. Nominated Bank Responsibilities under Different LC Availabilities “By payment”, “by negotiation”, “by deferred payment”, “by acceptance” — same LC, different risks. But who really carries the burden when things go wrong?” A common question from trade finance practitioners — and one that sparks more debate than you’d expect. When an LC says “by payment” or “by negotiation”, who really bears the risk if things go sideways? Let’s … Read More
AI làm trợ lý cho người – hay người làm trợ lý cho AI? Có bao giờ bạn nghĩ… người mới là trợ lý của AI chứ không phải ngược lại? Người ta vẫn hay nói: “Hãy dùng AI như một trợ lý của con người.” Nghe quen tai và hợp lý. Nhưng Mr. Old Man lại nghĩ, không phải lúc nào cũng đúng đâu nha. Có khi… con người làm trợ lý cho … Read More
Full Means Full — Describing the Goods in Line with ISBP 821 Intro Sometimes, the devil really is in the description. A letter of credit may ask for a “full description of goods,” and exporters wonder whether they can simplify the wording in their invoice — especially when only one mode of shipment applies. This question from Mr. Nishanth is a good example of how to balance what’s required by the LC … Read More
Commitment Fee After LC Expiry — Still Chargeable? Intro: A reader recently asked an interesting question about fees under a letter of credit. When an LC expires, does that mean the applicant no longer has to pay commitment fees to the issuing bank? Let’s take a closer look. __________ Question: Good morning, Sir! Thank you so much for all your efforts in making trade finance information more accessible. … Read More
When the Bill of Lading indicates “Intended Port of Discharge” and “Place of Delivery” — What does ISBP 821 E8(b) say? Sometimes a Bill of Lading can make bankers frown for all the wrong reasons. We’ve seen cases where it shows an “intended port of loading” and that’s fine under UCP 600, but what about when it shows an “intended port of discharge” instead? Does that make it discrepant? Let’s see what happens when Durban plays both roles — as the … Read More
DOCUMENTS LOST IN TRANSIT Article 35 UCP 600 Does Not Apply to an L/C Available with the Issuing Bank by Payment, Deferred Payment, or Acceptance INTRODUCTION From time to time, LC practitioners raise concerns about what happens if documents are lost in transit between banks. Article 35 of UCP 600 seems to provide clear protection — but when and to whom does that … Read More
When Is an Insurance Document Really ‘Negotiable’? – Understanding ISBP 821 (K19–K21) Insurance documents under a Letter of Credit can be tricky — especially when the LC calls for a document “in negotiable form” or “issued to the order of” a bank. What exactly does “negotiable form” mean? When is an endorsement required? And what happens if the LC doesn’t specify who the insured party should be? Below is a detailed question … Read More
CAN A USANCE LC BE ISSUED AVAILABLE WITH ANY BANK? INTRO At first glance, it may sound reasonable to make a usance LC “available with any bank.” After all, the more flexibility for the beneficiary, the better—right? But in practice, things are rarely that simple. Under UCP 600, a nominated bank has no obligation to act unless it agrees to do so. That small detail makes all the difference, as … Read More
Can a Finance Company Act as a Remitting Bank? In documentary collections, banks usually handle the remittance of funds and documents — but does it have to be a bank? What if a finance company steps in to manage the process? Let’s look at how a finance company can act as a remitting bank and how payment can still flow smoothly, even without its own nostro account. Question Dear … Read More
Chiều không mưa, ghé thăm Bảo tàng Đà Nẵng Mr. Old Man ghé Bảo tàng Đà Nẵng, không ngờ lại “gặp” hai thông điệp quốc tế vang dội từ hơn nửa thế kỷ trước: “Việt Nam là lương tri của chúng ta” – tiếng Ý nghe sang mà thấm, và “Hòa bình cho Việt Nam!” – tiếng Đức nghe gọn mà ấm lòng. Nhìn hai khẩu hiệu ấy, Mr. … Read More