Letter Of Credit vs Line Of Credit: What’s The Difference?

In our articles, we have been focusing a lot on credit repair and bankruptcy with the goal of boosting your credit for better financial health.

Now that we have rebuilt a good credit score, it’s time we discuss how to leverage credit for making purchases.

A 2022 study showed that $371.6 million were used as letters of credit.

From our experience, letters of credit and lines of credit are great ways to make purchases for your business without paying cash.

In this article, we’ll discuss the details of letter of credit vs line of credit and how you can take advantage of them using credit to make purchases.

Short Summary

• A Letter of credit is a document issued by the buyer’s bank to guarantee the seller will be paid for the transaction
• There are different types of letters of credit to help both buyers and sellers
• A Line of credit is an unsecured and secured loan that provides flexible payments
• There are different types of lines of credit for personal and business use 

The Differences Between A Letter Of Credit vs Line Of Credit

A Letter of Credit from the buyer’s financial institution allows the seller to receive payment from the buyer. 

This is a common practice in international trade to ensure the seller is paid immediately.

On the other hand, a line of credit is a loan with a pre-set limit provided by a financial institution to trustworthy customers, who can access the funds anytime for making purchases.

This is great for accessing quick cash flow for your personal or business needs.

The key difference between letter of credit and line of credit is the document involved in letter of credit.

For a letter of credit, the buyer will need to bring the document to the seller as a form of guarantee payment, whereas, in the same scenario, the buyer can withdraw cash to make the purchase directly from their line of credit. 

In terms of using credit to make a purchase, a letter of credit does not use your credit as money comes from your bank account.

In comparison, a line of credit is based on your creditworthiness since you can make purchases without spending your cash.

What Is A Letter Of Credit?

A Letter of Credit is a guarantee from the buyer’s bank or financial institution that payments will be made to the seller during international trade (import and export).

The buyer’s issuing bank and the seller’s bank are the parties involved in the transaction when using a letter of credit.

This allows the bank to review the terms and conditions of the purchase while verifying the payments.

Credit requirement is unnecessary since funds come from the buyer’s bank account.

Overall, a letter of credit is great for making purchases internationally.

Advantages Of A Letter Of Credit

• Offering more security compared to other payment methods
• Suitable for businesses dealing with large purchases.
• The funds involved in the transaction are protected from fraud/theft or any potential losses
• It reduces credit risk for both the buyer and seller. 

Disadvantages Of A Letter Of Credit

• More paperwork is involved due to the lengthy process
• It can be expensive since the issuing bank charges a fee for processing and verifying payments
• Potential delays in receiving payments can affect delivering goods/services
• Differences between the buyer’s and seller’s banks regarding procedures and policies

Types Of Letters Of Credit

There are many types of letters of credit, and they vary across different financial institutions.

Make sure you compare and review the details of the letter of credit offered by different financial institutions. 

Here is a list of the common types of letters of credit:

1) Commercial letter of credit – Used for commercial transactions like importing and exporting goods and services

2) Traveler’s letter of credit – Used for travelers who need to withdraw money from a bank in a foreign country

3) Irrevocable and revocable letter of credit – An irrevocable letter of credit cannot be changed or canceled without the consent of all parties involved, and although rarely used due to trust during a transaction, a recoverable letter of credit can be altered and canceled without any notice

4) Confirmed and unconfirmed letter of credit – A confirmed letter of credit adds a layer of security from a secondary bank to guarantee payment, whereas an unconfirmed letter of credit only guarantees payment from the issuing bank

5) Standby letter of credit – Used as a secondary payment if the transaction fails and the beneficiary is not paid

6) Revolving letter of credit – Can be used multiple times and is ideal for ongoing business transactions

7) Red/green clause letter of credit – Red clause letter of credit gives the seller a percentage of the value from the letter of credit in advance, and green clause letter of credit gives the seller additional funds for logistics on top of the red clause letter of credit

What Is A Line Of Credit?

A line of credit is a type of loan offered to individuals or businesses with good credit profiles.

Lines of credit are unique because you are only required to pay the monthly interest payments, and the loan can be paid back anytime.

This is especially useful for emergency funds or cash flow for your business as it will give you more flexibility to manage your finances. 

Personal lines of credit are usually offered based on your credit score, whereas business line of credit are offered based on your business account activities and your relationship with the bank.

Advantages Of A Line Of Credit

• Quick access to funds
• Flexible repayment terms
• Lower interest rates
• No collateral required
• Easier to qualify for

Disadvantages Of A Line Of Credit 

• Potential for abuse
• Limited borrowing amount
• Difficult to obtain for poor credit 
• Inactivity fees can be charged if the line of credit is not used

Types Of Lines Of Credit

1) Unsecured line of credit – Most line of credit are unsecured without the need for collateral, and because of this, the limits are usually lower

2) Secured line of credit – Usually secured against a real estate property and referred to as Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) with higher limits

3) Personal line of credit – A form of unsecured line of credit for personal use

4) Business line of credit – A form of unsecured line of credit for business use

5) Student line of credit – A form of unsecured line of credit for student use

6) Investment line of credit – A form of secured and unsecured line of credit for investment purposes

7) Construction line of credit – A form of unsecured line of credit for construction use, usually for building a home

Key Considerations For Letter Of Credit And Line Of Credit

Letter of credit and line of credit are both useful for making purchases.

Especially in the case of a line of credit, where you can leverage credit to access cash without spending your funds.

Just be mindful that we recommend using this for emergencies only.

What Are The Criteria To Be Eligible For A Letter Of Credit Or Line Of Credit?

For a letter of credit, the requirements are minimal since this is based on the available funds in your bank account.

For a line of credit, this requires a good credit score since you need to show that you are trustworthy in using your credit responsibly. 

However, a line of credit is still relatively easier to be approved for compared to traditional loans because of the lower limit.

What Costs Are Associated With Each Option?

Letter of credit fees can vary depending on the agreement between the buyer and issuer. 

Generally speaking, fees include processing, commission, and possible currency exchange costs if involved. 

Line of credit charges interest rates on the amount used, and the rate varies based on the type of line of credit. 

However, the interest rate is usually lower than loans and credit cards.

Wrapping Up And My Experience With Letter Of Credit And Line Of Credit

Letter of credit and line of credit have different use cases as the former is ideal for purchasing goods internationally, and the latter is ideal for emergency funds.

From our experience, using a line of credit is simpler and allows you to use your credit to access funds without spending your money. 

Remember, rebuilding your credit is only half the journey, and maintaining your credit for future uses is the other half of keeping sustainable good financial health.