When the Confirming Bank Goes Insolvent — What Happens Next? Intro Confirmed LCs are designed to give exporters peace of mind — the comfort that even if the issuing bank or its country faces trouble, a confirming bank (often in the exporter’s own country) will step in and pay. But what if the confirming bank itself goes under before documents are presented? This question, raised by Ts., is not just … Read More
Who’s Really Insured? — When the Policy Lists Two Names Intro: Sometimes a small wording twist in an insurance document can spark big compliance headaches. One reader recently asked whether an insurance policy showing both the beneficiary and the issuing bank as insured parties meets LC requirements. Let’s see what Mr. Old Man has to say. QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, Warm greetings. I hope this message finds you well. … Read More
Five Banking Days — and When to Pay INTRO Everyone in trade finance knows the famous “five banking days” rule under UCP 600 — but confusion often arises about what happens after those five days. If the bank finds the documents complying, must it pay right away? Or can it wait until the fifth day (or even later) to release the funds? _____ QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, … Read More
Does “Mail Advice of Negotiation” Delay Payment under the LC? INTRO Every now and then, someone spots a mysterious line in Field 78 of a letter of credit and starts to wonder if it hides a trap. One of those lines reads: “On receipt of mail advice of negotiation, we shall cover as per instruction received.” Does that mean the issuing bank won’t pay until they receive such a “mail … Read More
Once in a while, a little flower falls my way Not money from the sky, but a kind mention from Narendra Kumar Kalra, a respected international trade consultant, who shared my post “Sanctions vs. Honour: What If the LC Has No Sanctions Clause?” on LinkedIn. For someone long “retired from the battlefield,” being remembered by fellow trade finance professionals — and seeing that old slogan still alive — “For those … Read More
ONE GUARANTEE ISSUED AGAINST MORE THAN ONE COUNTER-GUARANTEE (When one guarantee has two “parents”) INTRO Every now and then, a guarantee comes into this world with not one, but two proud parents — two counter-guarantors, each claiming their share of responsibility. Sounds like a happy family? Well, it can be… provided everyone knows exactly who pays what when the baby cries. That’s exactly the situation raised in this … Read More
Can the Second Confirming Bank Claim from the First Confirming Bank? Intro In practice, some letters of credit carry dual confirmation — one by the confirming bank nominated by the issuing bank, and another by a local bank in the beneficiary’s country. While this arrangement may look like extra protection, it can also create confusion over reimbursement responsibilities if the chain of document presentation is broken. The following case raises a … Read More
Nghỉ hưu – tiêu sao cho hết thời gian? Đó là câu hỏi có cả trăm đáp án khác nhau. Trừ những người còn khỏe và vẫn đang làm thêm việc gì đó, đa phần khi về hưu đều loay hoay không biết làm gì cho hết ngày. Đi du lịch ư? Một năm vài ba chuyến du lịch thì cũng chỉ “tiêu” được dăm chục ngày, còn lại … Read More
Doanh nhân – đâu chỉ có anh mặc veston Người ta thường nghĩ “doanh nhân” là phải có công ty, có văn phòng, dự hội nghị, ký hợp đồng tiền tỷ. Nhưng thật ra, chị bán xôi đầu ngõ, cô bán mì Quảng trong hẻm, hay bà gánh hàng rong ngoài chợ… cũng là người kinh doanh đích thực. Họ dậy từ tinh mơ, tính toán từng đồng … Read More
Can the Collecting Bank Release the Documents to the Buyer after Sending Advice of Non-Payment? ________ In documentary collections, things don’t always go as planned. Sometimes the buyer initially refuses to pay under a Documents against Payment (D/P) collection, only to come back the next day ready to settle and collect the goods. But what if, by then, the collecting bank has already reported the buyer’s refusal and is waiting for the remitting bank’s instructions? … Read More