第三节、信用证付款一、信用证概述国际贸易结算中常使用的支付方式有四种1、预付货款(Advanced Payment)，部分付或全付不利于买方。
2、记帐赊销(Open Account)，定期结算。
不利于卖方。
3、按票托收(Collection)，不利于卖方。
上述三种方式皆属于商业信用，无论使用任何一种都会给双方带来要么利，要么弊，没有让双方都满意的，这样势必给交易带来不便。
因此，在长期的贸易实践中商人们创建了以银行信用为基础的第四种付款方式，即：4、信用证付款(Pay by Letter of Credit, L/C)在对信用证作进一步探讨之前我们先了解一下信用证付款的业务流程。
三、UCP600中的信用证的定义：“ A documentary credit is a conditional bank written undertaking of payment, issued by a bank at the request of an importer of goods, in which the issuing bank promises to pay a beneficiary upon presentation of documents and draft if they are all in compliance with the terms of the credit.”关于信用证的意义，UCP600进一步解释为：“就本惯例而言，跟单信用证和备用信用证（以下简称信用证）意指一项约定，不论其如何命名或描述，系指一家银行（开证行）应客户（申请人）的要求和指示，或以自身的名义，在与信用证条款相符的条件下，凭规定的单据：1、向第三者(受益人)或其指定人付款，或承兑并支付受益人出具的汇票(一般是商业的/跟单的汇票），或2、授权另一家银行付款，或承兑并支付(商业的/跟单的)汇票，或3、授权另一家银行议付(商业的/跟单的汇票和单据)。
上述的1、2、3、项是开证行的职能；上述的1、是开证行的必尽义务。
四、信用证的性质和特点由于银行的参与和付款承诺，使得信用证项下的付款属于一种银行信用。
信用证项下的付款有三个方面的特点：1、充分利用了银行信用2、信用证一但开出，它就是一份独立于买卖合同之外的一种自足的文件(UCP600：信用证独立于基础商业合同）。
3、信用证项下的付款是一种单据的买卖，而不是货物的买卖。
六、用证的主要内容THE ASAHI BANK, LTD.C.P.O. BOX No. 800 TOKYO 100-91 JANPANADVISED BY AIRMALLIRREVOCABLE DOCUMENTARY CREDITNUMBER: LC531-312818DA TE OF ISSUE: FEBRUARY 17, 1994DA TE AND PLACE OF EXPIRY: APRIL 25, 1994 CHINAADVISING BANK:BANK OF CHINA, HEILONGJIANG BRANCHBENEFICIARY: HEILONGJIANGLIGHTINDUSTRIALPRODUCTSIMPEXPCORP.144 ZHONG SHAN ROAD, XIANGFANG DISTRICT HARBIN, CHINAAPPLICANT:TOHO TRADING CO., LTD. 2-2, 4-CHOME, KITANAGASA-DORI, CHUO-KU, KOBE, JAPANAMOUNT:USD 4,500.00 (SAY U.S.DOLLARS FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED ONL Y) WE HEREBY ISSUE IRREVOCABLE DOCUMENTARY CREDIT WHICH IS A V AILABLE WITH ANY BANK BY NEGOTIATION OF BENEFICIARY’S DRAFTS A T SIGHT FOR FULL INVOICE V ALUE DRAWN ON CHEMCAL BANK H.O. (NEW YORK) PARTIAL SHIPMENTS: PROHIBITED.TRANSHIPMENT: PROHIBITED.SHIPMENT FROM: CHINESE PORT TO: KOBE, JAPANAT THE LATEST: APRIL 10, 1994FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:+SIGNED COMMERCIAL INVOICE IN 3 COPIES INDICATING CREDIT NO.+FULL SET OF CLEAN ON BOARD MARINE BILLS OF LADING MADE OUT TO ORDER AND BLANK ENDORSED AND MARKED “FREIGHT PREPAID” AND “NOT IFY APPLICANT”+INSURANCE POLICY OR CERTIFICATE IN DUPLICATE, ENDORSED IN BLANK, FOR 110PCT OF THE INVOICE V ALUE INCLUDING : THE INSTITUTE CARGO CLAUSES (ALL RISKS), THE INSTITUTE W AR CLAUSES AND THE INSTITUTE STRIKES RIOTS AND CIVIL COMMOTIONS CLAUSES. INSURANCE CLAIMS TO BE PAY ABLE IN JAPAN IN THE CURRENCY OF THE DRAFTS+PACKING LIST IN 3 COPIES INDICATING QUANTITY, GROSS AND NET WEIGHTS OF EACH PACKAGE+CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN IN 2 COPIES ISSUED BY CCIB HEILONGJIANG BRANCH COVERING: 25 CARTONS OF WOODEN DOLL, CIF KOBE JAPANSPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:TELEGRAPHIC REIMBURSEMENT CLAIM PROHIBITEDCHARGES:ALL BANKING CHARGES OUTSIDE JAPAN, INCLUDING REINBURSEMENT COMMISSIONS , ARE FOR ACCOUNT OF BENEFICIARYDRAFTS AND DOCUMENTS TO BE PRESENTED FOR NEGOTIATION WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SHIPMENT, BUT WITHIN THE V ALIDITY OF THE CREDIT INSTRUCTIONS TO NEGOTIATING BANK:THE NEGOTIATING BANK MUST AIRMAIL THE DRAFTS TO THE DRAWEEBANK TOGETHER WITH THEIR CERTIFICATE STATING THAT ALL DOCUMENTS HA VE BEEN FORWARDED BY REGISTED AIRMAIL TO US IN TWO CONSECUTIVE LOTS OUR INT’L OPERA TIONS CENTER MAIL ADDRESS:C.P.O.BOX NO.800 TOKYO 100-91 JAPAN.THE MAILING ADDRESS OF DRAWEE’S BANK:CHEMICAL BANK, 55 WATER STREETATTN: REIMBURSEMENT L/C DEPT. 17TH FL. RM 1702, NEW YORK, 10041 ALL DRAFTS DRAWN HEREUNDER MUST INDICATE THE NUMBER, DATE OF ISSUANCE AND NAME OF ISSUING BANK OF THIS CREDITWE HEREBY ENGAGE WITH THE DRAWERS, ENDORSERS AND BONA FIDE HOLDERS OF DRAFTS DRAWN UNDER AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THIS CREDIT THAT SUCH DRAFTS WILL BE DULY HONORED UPON PRESENTATION TO THE DRAWEE BANKTHE AMOUNT OF EACH DRAWING HEREUNDER MUST BE ENDORSED ON THE REVERSE HEREOF BY THE NEGOTIATING BANKINSTRUCTIONS TO ADVISING BANK:PLEASE ADVISE THIS CREDIT TO THE BENEFICIARY WITHOUT ADDING YOU CONFIRMATIONC.C. CHEMICAL BANK H.O. (NEW YORK)FOR THE ASAHI BANK, LTD.Authorized Signatures七、信用证的种类1、跟单信用证和光票信用证(Documentary/Clean Credit)。
2、不可撤消信用证和可撤消信用证(Irrevocable/Revocable L/C)。
3、保兑信用证和不保兑信用证(Confirmed/Unconfirmed L/C)。
4、即期信用证和远期信用证(Pay at Sight/after…days of …)。
5、假远期信用证(Discount L/C)，既开证行贴现远期汇票，贴息由买方承担。
6、付款信用证(L/C Available by Payment) 。
7、承兑信用证(L/C Available by Acceptance) 。
8、议付信用证L/C Available by Negotiation)9、可转让信用证和不可转让信用证(Transferable/Non-Transferable L/C)。
10、循环信用证(Revolving L/C)。
11、对开信用证(Reciprocal L/C)。
12、背对背信用证(Back to Back L/C)。