Bank Guarantees and LCs are financial instruments often used in inland or international trade when suppliers or vendors do not have established business relationships with their counterparts. The difference between the two instruments is the position of the bank relative to the buyer and seller of goods or services. The difference is as explained below.
A letter of credit is a bank’s DIRECT undertaking to the supplier (called the beneficiary) to pay. When a letter of credit is in use, the issuing bank does not wait for the buyer to default, and for the seller to invoke the undertaking.
In contrast, a guarantee is a written contract stating that IN THE EVENT the primary party (the buyer) is unable or unwilling to pay its dues to the supplier the bank, as guarantor to the transaction the BG issuer would pay (the client's debt) to the supplier.
In other words, a bank guarantee is an undertaking of a bank on behalf of its customer. But this comes into play ONLY WHEN the principal party (the buyer) has failed to pay its supplier. (Do note this key point.)
Essentially, the bank becomes a co-signer for its customer's purchases.
Hence, in a BG the initial claim is still settled primarily (i.e., first) against the bank's client, and not the bank itself. Should the client default, ONLY THEN would the bank (which has issued the BG) agree to pay for it's client's debts on behalf of its client. This is a type of contingent guarantee.
A bank guarantee, therefore, is more risky for the merchant and less risky for the bank. But this is not the case with a letter of credit (LC).
