In the fast-paced world of documentary credits, a single SWIFT message sent in error can expose an issuing bank to serious risks—especially when it concerns acceptance of discrepant documents. One such query came from Suraj, raising an important issue: What happens when a bank mistakenly sends an acceptance message without first securing a waiver from the applicant—and then tries to …

Intro: Two classic bill of lading dilemmas — and two areas where LC checkers often hesitate: Can a B/L indicate CY/CY even when the cargo is clearly LCL? Is an on-board notation on the feeder vessel acceptable when the port of loading matches the LC? These are questions that continue to pop up in practice — and while the rules …

Introduction: In the context of transferable letters of credit, the role and liability of the transferring bank are often misunderstood — particularly when the issuing bank fails to honour or delays payment. Is the transferring bank obligated to pay the second beneficiary? Does the answer change if the bank confirms the transferred credit or undertakes to pay at maturity? To …

Intro: In this Q&A, we examine two real-world scenarios involving a certificate confirming the vessel’s age — a common LC condition. While both certificates appear to meet the content requirement, questions arise over the identity and authority of the issuer. Is a letterhead necessary? Can any agent of the carrier sign such a certificate? And how should an issuing bank …

Introduction: In trade finance, especially under letters of credit, questions often arise around the treatment of surrendered bills of lading—particularly when only a copy is presented. One common point of confusion is whether such documents fall under UCP 600 Article 20, which governs bills of lading. In this Q&A, we clarify whether Article 20 applies to surrendered bills of lading, …

In documentary credit practice, few terms cause more misunderstanding than “documents sent on collection basis” — especially when a letter of credit (L/C) is involved and payment is at stake.  In this Q&A, Mr. Old Man responds to a concerned exporter whose bank forwarded documents to the issuing bank after noting discrepancies. Are the documents still governed by UCP 600? …

Introduction: At first glance, the roles of confirming and nominated banks under UCP 600 seem clearly defined—but in practice, especially when more than one confirming bank is involved, the lines can blur. What happens when a credit is confirmed by two banks, but documents must be presented at only one location? Who is obligated to pay, and what if the …

Intro: This note aims to clarify how amendments to a master letter of credit (LC) may impact a corresponding back-to-back LC (sometimes referred to as the “baby LC”) in a typical back-to-back LC structure. It also addresses the practical considerations around the timing and coordination of such amendments — specifically whether both LCs must be amended simultaneously, or if acceptance …

The joys of LC compliance—where even your insurance document can make or break a negotiation. In today’s Q&A, a reader preparing documents for LC negotiation stumbles upon a classic trade finance brain teaser: What exactly is an “Insurance Policy in Negotiable Form endorsed in blank”? . Is it about bearer documents? Is there an endorsement ceremony involved? Or is it …

Intro: A colleague recently asked me whether a bill of lading (BL) can show the place of issue as a location in the country of destination, rather than at the place of receipt or port of loading, especially when the LC requires a multimodal transport document. Since this is a common point of confusion — and not explicitly addressed in …