WHERE ARE ALL THE BG & SBLC PROVIDERS?
There are no formal courses, books, or widely available resources to understand how the BG and SBLC industry operates. Most of what is known comes from direct experience within the industry, which keeps the knowledge confined to a select few. This absence of clear, accessible information leads to a vast number of myths and incorrect assumptions
The BG and SBLC market is part of a hidden world of finance where only a handful of insiders truly understand the process. Authentic providers typically work within closed networks, making it difficult for outsiders to identify and access them. This exclusivity is why the industry remains elusive for many seeking legitimate providers
The BG and SBLC space is rife with fraudulent claims, misleading brokers, and false promises. Many intermediaries with no genuine understanding of the process make outrageous promises, adding to the confusion and misinformation. This perpetuates the myth that providers are hard to find, when in reality, legitimate providers are simply very selective.
To address this gap, Ice Capital Trading developed its platform and resources to guide, educate, and dispel myths about the BG and SBLC industry. By providing accurate information and offering real, trusted services, Ice Invest Capital Trading helps clients navigate this complex world with clarity
It's a shocking revelation for most, but here’s the truth: Banks DO NOT issue Bank Guarantees (BG) or Standby Letters of Credit (SBLC). That may sound unbelievable but allow me to break it down with a clear explanation of how the system actually works.
THE ROLE OF THE BANK: DELIVERER, NOT INITIATOR
Banks are not the actual providers or issuers of BGs or SBLCs. Instead, they act as intermediaries or "delivery agents." Just like how a post office delivers parcels but isn’t the originator of the contents inside, banks deliver financial instruments like BGs and SBLCs, but they do not originate or provide them.
When you mail a parcel through the post office, the post office merely delivers it; they don’t provide the content. In the same way, banks receive a financial instruction from a provider (the real owner of the asset) to deliver a BG or SBLC to a designated receiver.
The Bank’s Role: Banks only create and transmit the BG or SBLC through their system (often through Swift MT760 or MT799), but they do this on behalf of a provider, not out of their own reserves or assets.
Who Are the Real BG & SBLC Providers?
The true providers of BGs and SBLCs are wealthy individuals, corporations, or entities who have significant liquid assets in their bank accounts. These providers authorize their bank to "cut" (issue) a financial instrument, backed by their own funds.
Provider’s Control:
The provider instructs the bank to secure part of their own cash holdings and create a BG or SBLC. The bank’s only role is to execute these instructions and transmit the instrument to the receiver’s bank via the secure Swift network.
Banks Earn Fees:
The bank receives a fee for cutting and delivering the financial instrument but has no other financial interest or liability in the transaction. The asset remains fully under the provider’s control.
COMMON MISCONCEPTION:
Most people assume that banks issue BGs and SBLCs themselves as a standard banking service. This misconception has fueled misunderstandings and misinformation in the industry. In reality, banks only facilitate the transmission of these instruments based on the instructions of the asset owners (providers).
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Banks act as the delivery mechanism in BG and SBLC transactions. The actual responsibility, risk, and ownership lie with the provider, not the bank. This distinction is critical for understanding how these financial instruments work and why it's important to partner with credible providers who can offer legitimate assets backed by real funds.
This revelation helps dispel much of the confusion in the BG and SBLC industry and underscores the importance of working with a knowledgeable partner who can navigate this complex world.
Here are the key reasons why banks don't issue Bank Guarantees (BGs) or Standby Letters of Credit (SBLCs):
REASON 1: BANKS DON’T USE BG’S OR SBLC’S TO RAISE CAPITAL.
When a bank wants to raise capital, it does so through more traditional and widely accepted methods such as:
- Issuing Bank Stock or Shares: Banks offer equity shares to investors as a way of raising funds.
- Issuing Bonds: They sell bonds, which are debt instruments, to borrow money from investors.
- Issuing MTNs (Medium-Term Notes): Banks issue MTNs to finance themselves, offering a fixed or floating interest rate over a medium-term period.
Banks never issue Bank Guarantees or SBLCs to raise capital. These instruments are not designed or intended for capital-raising purposes; instead, they are financial instruments backed by client funds.
REASON 2: BG’S AND SBLC’S ARE SECURED AGAINST CLIENT CASH, NOT BANK CASH
Bank Guarantees and SBLCs are secured by the client’s own funds in their bank account. The bank does not use its own funds to back these instruments. The role of the bank is to secure a portion of the client’s cash and issue a financial instrument that is tied to that security, but the risk lies entirely with the client, not the bank.
REASON 3: BANKS DON’T ADVERTISE BG’S OR SBLC’S FOR SALE
BGs and SBLCs are not publicly offered by banks. They are niche financial products created upon request for high-net-worth individuals or corporations who already have substantial liquid assets in the bank. Banks don’t monetize BGs or SBLCs for retail clients. If you walked into a bank branch, it’s unlikely anyone would be able to offer you such products because they are tailored for specific clients with large balances and particular needs.
REASON 4: BG’S AND SBLC’S AREN’T STANDARD BANKING PRODUCTS
If you walk into a branch of a top 25 world bank and ask for a leased Bank Guarantee, most bank officers will likely be unfamiliar with the concept. That’s because BGs and SBLCs are not retail or publicly offered products. They are exclusively available to high-net-worth clients who request them as part of complex financial or trading transactions.
REASON 5: SPECIAL CUSTODIAL OR LINE OF TRADING ACCOUNTS ARE REQUIRED
To issue a BG or SBLC, a bank must establish a SPECIAL CUSTODIAL OR LINE OF TRADING ACCOUNT. This is a unique account type that is set up to hold, issue, and receive financial instruments like BGs or SBLCs.
- SETUP PROCESS:
Setting up these accounts is highly specialized, takes months, and is extremely costly—usually between $500 million to $1 billion euros to establish.
- EXCLUSIVITY:
These accounts are typically reserved for the top 1% of private banking clients. A regular customer cannot simply walk into a bank and open a custodial account, nor can they request a BG or SBLC without having a significant financial profile.
SBLC & BG PROVIDER
LIMITED NUMBER OF GENUINE PROVIDERS
Issuing Bank Guarantees (BGs) and Standby Letters of Credit (SBLCs) is a specialized skill that requires extensive financial expertise. Many high-net-worth investors simply do not have the time, patience, or technical know-how to engage in this complex process. As a result, there are very few legitimate BG and SBLC providers.
PROVIDERS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND
BG & SBLC providers are in an advantageous position because demand for their services far exceeds supply. These providers have more clients than they need, which gives them the ability to be extremely selective about whom they do business with. Simply put, clients need the providers much more than the providers need the clients.
PROVIDERS HAVE OTHER LUCRATIVE VENTURES
BG and SBLC providers are typically high-net-worth individuals or entities with many alternative ways to generate income. Issuing financial instruments is just one of many lucrative opportunities available to them, making them even less inclined to take on just any client or deal
HIGH FAILURE RATE IN 3RD PARTY MONETIZATIONS
A significant portion—around 65% to 70%—of BG and SBLC deliveries to third-party monetizers fail because the monetizers themselves fail to perform. This failure rate discourages many legitimate providers from entering into transactions with monetizers, further reducing their willingness to engage in these deals.
MISUNDERSTANDING AND UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS IN THE MARKET
The industry is crowded with uninformed or Foolish Investors who believe in myths, such as being able to acquire BGs or SBLCs for free or without upfront fees. These unrealistic expectations waste the time of serious providers, who become wary of engaging with potential clients who don't understand the complexities or costs involved in these transactions.
