Negotiable instruments are written documents that serve as a substitute for money when purchasing something, for instance, checks, bank drafts, promissory notes, and even certificates of deposit (although certificates of deposit are almost never negotiable). A bank endorsement signifies to a seller that a negotiable instrument will be honored when presented to the customer’s bank for collection, provided that all terms of the transaction agreement are met.
Alternative Name: Banker’s acceptance, time draft
Essentially, a banker’s acceptance or time draft is a negotiable document where a bank unconditionally agrees to fulfill a payment obligation on behalf of the customer that created it. Bank endorsements are common in international trade. For example, an importer may not want to pay an exporter in full before receiving goods and an exporter may not want to ship goods before being paid. So, as a solution, a bank serves as a middle party offering a guarantee to the exporter and accepting payment from the importer at a later date.
How a Bank Endorsement Works
A bank endorsement works when a customer creates a negotiable instrument, such as a check. Then the customer gets the bank to guarantee that the funds will be paid to the recipient when the check is presented. So when a buyer orders something from overseas that needs to be shipped, they may want to pay for the merchandise at a later date after receiving the shipment. In this situation, the seller would assume all of the risks if the buyer is unable to pay. So the seller could request that the buyer receive a bank endorsement from their bank. The buyer could then create a negotiable instrument through their bank known as a banker’s acceptance or time draft. Once the bank accepts and authorizes the draft, it is now fully backed by the bank. After the bank endorsement is obtained, the seller is then guaranteed payment. Additionally, the risks are transferred away from the seller and onto the bank. A bank will not provide a bank endorsement unless it can verify that both parties are trustworthy. Let’s look at a transaction that might require a bank endorsement. Imagine that you own a car dealership in the U.S. and want to purchase 500 cars online from a European wholesaler. You both agree on a price and that the payment will be sent via a check. However, since you don’t have a history with the seller, they may request you get a bank endorsement of the check. This guarantees the seller that they will receive payment for the cars whether you can meet the financial obligation or not.
Types of Bank Endorsements
Banker’s Acceptance
One type of bank endorsement is a banker’s acceptance, also known as a time draft. The time draft must be originated and accepted by the bank of the person creating the draft. The time draft acts as a written order that specifies whom to pay, how much, and what date. An authorized bank employee must then stamp the draft as “accepted” and sign it before the draft becomes the total liability of the bank. When a bank endorsement is structured using this process, the seller can ship the order with confidence that they will receive the payment on time. The buyer can also rest assured that the transaction will occur according to the agreed-upon terms. Ultimately, they won’t be assuming the risk that the buyer won’t pay. Receiving a banker’s acceptance, or BA, requires a letter of credit.
Letter of Credit
Another type of bank endorsement is a letter of credit. The letter of credit works similar to the banker’s acceptance. The issuing bank guarantees a seller or exporter that they will receive payment for their goods if the buyer can not pay. If the seller agrees to this type of bank endorsement, the buyer, or importer, has their bank issue a letter of credit to the seller on behalf of the buyer’s bank. Then, once the goods have shipped, the seller can present their documents to the issuing bank and collect payment.
Stamp
Another form of bank endorsement occurs when a receiving bank stamps a check. The stamp is typically placed on the back. For instance, if you were cashing or depositing a check into your bank account. A bank endorsement stamp is specific to the receiving bank. It typically includes a routing number, transit number, name and location of the bank, and the endorsement date. This type of bank endorsement leaves behind a digital and paper trail that can be traced should any issues arise with the cashing or proper posting of the check.
