Vocabulary

remittance – грошовий переказ

transfer – переказувати

clear the cheque – здійснювати кліринг чеків (розрахунок за чеками або векселями через розрахункову палату)

draft – переказний вексель, тратта

draw / issue a cheque / draft – виписувати (виставляти) чек (тратту)

delay – затримка,запізнення

branch – представництво, філія

cancel out the profit – нейтралізувати прибуток

in bulk – оптом

in favour of – на чиєсь ім’я

warrant – гарантувати, доручати повноваження

Remitting the Money

There are several ways that a remittance from an overseas buyer can be transmitted to an exporter. An exporter’s most important consideration is the speed at which this can be done – the quicker it is achieved the better an exporter’s cash flow and the less the cost of any finance that may have to be raised to carry out an export contract.

In the contract where payment is on open account terms, payment by a cheque from an overseas buyer might seem the simplest method. But there are several disadvantages. The cheque will normally be drawn on the buyer’s overseas bank in that national currency. So an exporter could be subject to а loss when the foreign currency is exchanged into sterling: there could be delays due to exchange controls in a buyer’s country; there could be postal delays; and there may be delays while the exporter’s UK bank clears the cheque with the overseas buyer’s bank.

Payment could be made by a banker’s draft. An overseas buyer’s bank issues a cheque in favour of an exporter to be drawn on a bank in the UK. Exchange control problems in the buyer’s country are avoided, but there could still be delays in the post and in clearances between the exporter’s UK bank and any other banks in the chain of remittances.

The most common form of non-documentагу payment for exports is by mail transfer (International Money Transfer). An overseas buyer instructs a bank in the buyer’s country to transfer an amount of money to an exporter’s UK bank by airmail, and in due course, the exporter receives payment. Unfortunately this can be a slow process. However, the UK exporter’s bank branch can assist the exporter in reducing to the minimum any delays in mail transfers.

Although at first sight more expensive, the most effective way of making an international payment, because of the time saved, is by telegraphic transfer (Express International Money Transfer) or bank cable. Money is transferred by coded inter-bank telex and as long as the exporter makes it clear to the overseas buyer exactly which bank and account in the UK the remittance should be made to, the exporter should receive very speedy payment through the system.

Delays in remittance can cost money, even cancelling out the profit in any contract, especially when the exporter is paying interest on any financing or the exporter’s cash flow is severely affected. So it is worth the exporter consulting the UK bank about remittance procedures in open account contracts. The exporter should generally ask the overseas buyer to remit to a specified UK bank branch by telegraphic transfer. If the export business warrants it, the exporter can consider opening bank account to collect funds and transfer them in bulk to the UK by telex at regular intervals.

In a new development, major banks including Midland have set up a computer system for inter-bank transfers called SWIFT, the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications. SWIFT can achieve same-day transfers between banks which are linked to the system.

Whether exporting companies are large or small, they have to rely on specialists to achieve the most efficient (and therefore least costly) method of receiving payment. It is here that banks can make one of their most important contributions to export business.