Bank Guarantee vs SBLC – Difference and Comparison

What is a Bank Guarantee?

A bank guarantee is a sort of financial assurance given by a bank to a third party (referred to as the “beneficiary”) on behalf of a client (referred to as the “principal”) that, in the event, the principal is unable to do so, the bank would satisfy any financial commitments of the principal. The bank’s promise to pay is triggered by the default of the principal.

There are two main types of bank guarantees: performance and financial. Performance guarantees are used to guarantee that a contractor will complete a construction project according to the terms of the contract. Financial guarantees are used to guarantee the payment of a debt or other financial obligation. Bank guarantees can also be used in different contexts, such as international trade.

It is important to note that bank guarantees are not the same as a loan or credit facility. A bank guarantee is a separate and distinct financial instrument, and the bank issuing the guarantee is not providing any funds to the principal. Instead, the bank is providing a promise to pay in the event of default, which can be a valuable asset for the principal.

What is an SBLC?                                                                              

A bank issues a standby letter of credit (SBLC) on behalf of a client (referred to as the “applicant”) to a third party (known as the “beneficiary”). If the applicant is unable to meet their financial commitments under a contract or other arrangement, the bank will, under the terms of the SBLC, undertake to pay the beneficiary a certain amount of money.

SBLCs are used in international trade transactions as a form of payment assurance. For example, an SBLC can be used to guarantee payment for goods or services that are being shipped from one country to another. The seller can request an SBLC from the buyer’s bank to ensure that they will receive payment for the goods or services even if the buyer defaults on the contract. In other words, the SBLC acts as a form of credit enhancement for the seller.

SBLCs are also used in other contexts, such as in construction projects where they are used to guarantee the performance of a contract or in the provision of a bank guarantee for a loan. It is important to note that an SBLC is not a loan or a line of credit. It is a separate and distinct financial instrument, and the bank issuing the SBLC is not providing any funds to the applicant.

Differences Between Bank Guarantee and SBLC

  1. Bank guarantees are used to guarantee the performance of a contract or the payment of a debt, whereas SBLCs are used in international trade transactions as payment assurance.
  2. A bank guarantee is triggered by the principal’s default, whereas an SBLC is triggered by the applicant’s inability to fulfill financial obligations under a contract.
  3. A bank guarantee can be used to provide credit enhancement for the principal, enabling them to secure business or financing, whereas SBLC provides credit enhancement for the beneficiary.
  4. A bank guarantee is not a loan or credit facility, and the bank issuing the security is not providing any funds to the principal, whereas SBLC is also not a loan or credit facility.
  5. There are two main types of bank guarantees: performance and financial guarantees, whereas SBLCs are mainly used in international trade transactions as payment assurance.

Comparison Between Bank Guarantee and SBLC

Parameters of ComparisonBank GuaranteeSBLC
PurposePerformance of a Contract/Payment of a DebtInternational Trade Transactions
TriggersDefault of the PrincipalInability to Fulfill Obligations
Credit EnhancementCredit for the PrincipalCredit for the Beneficiary
Funds ProvisionNo FundsNo Funding Commitment
TypesPerformance/FinancialAssurance/International Transactions

References

  1. http://journal.fh.unsri.ac.id/index.php/sriwijayalawreview/article/view/38
  2. https://heinonline.org/hol-cgi-bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/blj94&section=25