Introduction
A bank guarantee is a written contract given by a bank on the behalf of a
customer. By issuing this guarantee, a bank takes responsibility for payment of
a sum of money in case, if it is not paid by the customer on whose behalf the
guarantee has been issued. In return, a bank gets some commission for issuing
the guarantee.
Any one can apply for a bank guarantee, if his or her company has obligations
towards a third party for which funds need to be blocked in order to guarantee
that his or her company fulfils its obligations (for example carrying out
certain works, payment of a debt, etc.).
In case of any changes or cancellation during the transaction process, a bank
guarantee remains valid until the customer dully releases the bank from its
liability.
In the situations, where a customer fails to pay the money, the bank must pay
the amount within three working days. This payment can also be refused by the
bank, if the claim is found to be unlawful.
Benefits of Bank Guarantees
For Governments
1. Increases the rate of private financing for key sectors such as
infrastructure.
2. Provides access to capital markets as well as commercial banks.
3. Reduces cost of private financing to affordable levels.
4. Facilitates privatizations and public private partnerships.
5. Reduces government risk exposure by passing commercial risk to the private
sector.
For Private Sector
1. Reduces risk of private transactions in emerging countries.
2. Mitigates risks that the private sector does not control.
3. Opens new markets.
4. Improves project sustainability.
Legal Requirements
Bank guarantee is issued by the authorised dealers under
their obligated authorities notified vide FEMA 8/ 2000 dt 3rd May
2000. Only in case of revocation of guarantee involving US $ 5000 or more need
to be reported to Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
1. Direct or Indirect Bank Guarantee: A bank guarantee can be
either direct or indirect.
Direct Bank Guarantee It is issued by the applicant's
bank (issuing bank) directly to the guarantee's beneficiary without concerning a
correspondent bank. This type of guarantee is less expensive and is also subject
to the law of the country in which the guarantee is issued unless otherwise it
is mentioned in the guarantee documents.
Indirect Bank Guarantee With an indirect guarantee, a
second bank is involved, which is basically a representative of the issuing bank
in the country to which beneficiary belongs. This involvement of a second bank
is done on the demand of the beneficiary. This type of bank guarantee is more
time consuming and expensive too.
2. Confirmed Guarantee
It is cross between direct and indirect types of bank guarantee. This type of
bank guarantee is issued directly by a bank after which it is send to a foreign
bank for confirmations. The foreign banks confirm the original documents and
thereby assume the responsibility.
3. Tender Bond
This is also called bid bonds and is normally issued in support of a tender in
international trade. It provides the beneficiary with a financial remedy, if the
applicant fails to fulfill any of the tender conditions.
4. Performance Bonds
This is one of the most common types of bank guarantee which is used to secure
the completion of the contractual responsibilities of delivery of goods and act
as security of penalty payment by the Supplier in case of nondelivery of goods.
5. Advance Payment Guarantees
This mode of guarantee is used where the applicant calls for the provision of a
sum of money at an early stage of the contract and can recover the amount paid
in advance, or a part thereof, if the applicant fails to fulfill the agreement.
6. Payment Guarantees
This type of bank guarantee is used to secure the responsibilities to pay goods
and services. If the beneficiary has fulfilled his contractual obligations after
delivering the goods or services but the debtor fails to make the payment, then
after written declaration the beneficiary can easily obtain his money form the
guaranteeing bank.
7. Loan Repayment Guarantees
This type of guarantee is given by a bank to the creditor to pay the amount of
loan body and interests in case of nonfulfillment by the borrower.
8. B/L Letter of Indemnity
This is also called a letter of indemnity and is a type of guarantee from the
bank making sure that any kind of loss of goods will not be suffered by the
carrier.
9. Rental Guarantee
This type of bank guarantee is given under a rental contract. Rental guarantee
is either limited to rental payments only or includes all payments due under the
rental contract including cost of repair on termination of the rental contract.
10. Credit Card Guarantee
Credit card guarantee is issued by the credit card companies to its customer as a
guarantee that the merchant will be paid on transactions regardless of whether
the consumer pays their credit.
How to Apply for Bank Guarantee
Procedure for Bank Guarantees are very simple and are not governed by any
particular legal regulations. However, to obtained the bank guarantee one need
to have a current account in the bank. Guarantees can be issued by a bank
through its authorised dealers as per notifications mentioned in the FEMA 8/2000
date 3rd May 2000. Only in case of revocation of guarantee involving US $ 5000/
or more to be reported to Reserve Bank of India along with the details of the
claim received.
Bank
Guarantees vs. Letters of Credit
A bank guarantee is frequently confused with letter of credit (LC), which is similar
in many ways but not the same thing. The basic difference between the two is
that of the parties involved. In a bank guarantee, three parties are involved;
the bank, the person to whom the guarantee is given and the person on whose
behalf the bank is giving guarantee. In case of a letter of credit, there are
normally four parties involved; issuing bank, advising bank, the applicant
(importer) and the beneficiary (exporter).
Also, as a bank guarantee only becomes active when the customer fails to pay the
necessary amount where as in case of letters of credit, the issuing bank does not
wait for the buyer to default, and for the seller to invoke the undertaking.
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