Import and export services
Our relationship managers will give you all the assistance you need to trade efficiently and securely with your trading partners abroad.
There are a number of ways we can help.
Documentary credits (Letters of Credit)
If you’re an importer, a Letter of Credit will help you negotiate better terms with your trading partner abroad. We give a written undertaking, on your behalf, to pay the exporter a certain amount of money within a specified period of time – provided they present documents which conform strictly with the terms and conditions of the Letter of Credit.
To find out how this service can speed up deliveries, and reassure your trading partners abroad, call us on 0845 850 5555 from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am to 12.30pm Saturdays. Calls may be recorded for monitoring and training.
Documentary collections
Time-sensitive commercial documents can be sent and collected through the banking system.
Outward collections
The exporter forwards the shipping documents to us (the bank), with instructions to have them presented through a collecting bank in the buyer’s country.
Inward collections
We (as the collecting bank) act as the agent of the overseas bank forwarding the shipping documents. We inform the importer of the arrival of the shipping documents and notify them of the terms of their release. The importer makes payment or accepts the Bill of Exchange and in return, receives the documents. We then transfer the collected amount to the overseas (remitting) bank.
To find out how this service can make importing and exporting quicker and simpler, call us on 0845 850 5555.