Acceptance of Transferable Credit by Banks
In order to secure financing for a project or purchase, commercial banks often enter into agreements involving the issuance of a credit instrument. While these instruments traditionally require the issuer of the credit to make a direct payment to the bank creditor, the concept of a transferable credit has been introduced in recent years. A transferable credit provides the issuer with the opportunity to transfer their responsibility to make the payment to a third party. This type of credit may be especially useful in complicated financial transactions.
The transferable credit instrument is similar to a traditional non-transferable credit. It is a contract between the buyer and seller of goods or services where the seller agrees to render payment to a specific bank. The bank may be an intermediary between the two parties or the payment may be made directly to the seller. In some cases, a third party is also involved. For example, a letter of credit may be issued by a third party, such as a trust, in order to ensure the payment is handled according to the conditions of the agreement.
The benefit to the issuer of a transferable credit is that the issuer is not solely responsible for making the payment. Because the responsibility is transferred to a third party, the bank that issued the credit is not exposed to potential default risks. When the issuer of the credit instrument sues the third party for non-payment, the third party may also be liable to the bank. This added layer of protection against default reduces the risk of the bank being unable to collect its payment.
In addition, the transferable credit also provides a way for the issuer to free up capital that would otherwise be tied up in the payment obligation. When the issuer has the ability to transfer the payment obligation to another party, the issuer can utilize its funds in other areas and not be burdened with making the payment in the case of a default. This is a significant advantage for the issuer, as it allows the issuer to reinvest their funds, thus increasing the issuer’s liquidity and cash flow.
From the perspective of the bank, the transferable credit offers a higher level of security as well. Banks are subject to strict regulations when issuing credit instruments and must assess the risk of potential default when entering into agreements. Because the risk of default is mitigated by transferring the responsibility to a third party, banks can be more confident that the payment will be made promptly and in full. This level of assurance is valuable for the bank, as it allows the bank to extend more credit at a lower rate of interest.
The concept of a transferable credit is an advantageous tool that allows both the issuer of the credit and the bank to secure financing with a higher degree of security. This form of credit instrument offers the issuer a way to free up capital and protect their investment, while the bank can benefit from a lower risk of default and the ability to extend more credit.