A standby letter of credit is a bank instrument used as credit support. It is designed to be drawn only if the applicant fails to perform or pay. In real transactions, the words that matter are: issuer quality, governing rules, draw conditions, and whether the structure survives bank compliance. If you are still hearing “no upfront fee” claims, read why no-upfront SBLC providers do not exist.
Documentary letters of credit are used to pay for performance against shipping or service documents. Standby letters are typically used as backstop credit. If you need help choosing, start with SBLC vs DLC. For the LC rulebook and how banks check documents, see the UCP 600 guide.
Most standby letters are issued under ISP98 because it is built for standby mechanics: demand, drawing statements, and clean operational handling. Some standbys are issued under UCP 600, depending on jurisdiction and bank practice. Guarantees are often governed by URDG 758. A practical comparison is here: SBLC and guarantee rules explained.
If your project requires an MT760 and you want to understand what “compliant” means in practice, see: MT760 SBLC provider process (ISP98 / UCP 600 compliant).
SBLC pricing varies by issuer, obligor strength, collateral type, tenor, and jurisdiction risk. What does not vary is that there are always costs before issuance: compliance, legal review, and operational work. If your plan is “issue first, pay later,” you are starting from a non-bankable premise. If you are pairing the instrument with financing, read issuance, confirmation, and discounting explained to understand how lenders think about bank paper and liquidity.
Serious counterparties care about issuer quality, instrument rules, draw mechanics, and whether the advising bank can authenticate the message. They also care about whether your overall package is credible: governance, contracts, and evidence. If your need is to evidence capacity before moving to full underwriting, start with bankable artefacts: proof of funds services.
If you have a real transaction, a clear beneficiary, and you can support underwriting and third-party work, we can confirm the route, scope, and requirements.
Apply For A QuoteDisclaimer: This page is for general information only and does not constitute advice, an offer, or a solicitation. Financely acts as advisor and arranger through regulated partners and is not a bank or lender. Any instrument or facility is subject to underwriting, KYC, AML, sanctions screening, legal review, perfected security, and approvals by relevant stakeholders.
Financely advises growth-focused businesses on accessing capital by introducing their opportunities to professional investors. Financely is not a securities broker or dealer. Where appropriate, engagements are coordinated with regulated broker-dealers, investment banks, legal counsel, and other specialists.
Financely does not solicit, offer, or accept orders to buy or sell securities and makes no assurance regarding capital-raising outcomes.
Services are strictly business-to-business. Financely does not provide personal finance, consumer credit, or retail advisory services.
Advisory services are reserved for post-revenue companies that recognize the time and resources required for professional underwriting.
All mandates start with an RFQ. We review submissions, issue a brief Go/No-Go memo, and where bankable, release a Term Sheet that leads to funding. We arrange capital across Senior Secured, Unitranche, Second Lien/Mezzanine, Preferred Equity, and Gap Solutions. We do not process deals by email or chat.
Letters of Credit, Standby LCs, Confirmations, Receivables Finance, and Inventory Lines with control.
Funding arranged for trade flows with instruments sized to your cycle and aligned to delivery and settlement.
Move forward to secure working capital and keep goods moving. Submit the RFQ to start underwriting for funding.
Limited or non-recourse structures for energy and infrastructure with lender-ready materials.
Funding solutions aligned to project cash flows with credible covenants and conditions to reach notice to proceed.
Advance the file to termable status. Submit the RFQ so we can underwrite and secure funding.
Debt and Preferred solutions anchored on cash flow, Quality of Earnings, and clear closing mechanics.
Funding across senior, unitranche, and preferred to match stable cash flows and acquisition timelines.
Get financed on workable terms for closing. Submit the RFQ to start underwriting.
Acquisition, development, bridge, and refinance with lender-ready packs and third-party reports managed.
Funding calibrated to DSCR, leverage, and tenancy with terms designed to close.
Move to a financeable package. Submit the RFQ to initiate underwriting for funding.
KYC and Source of Funds required. Engagements are best-efforts and subject to underwriting. Preference for operating companies with meaningful revenue. See our FAQ and Procedure.
Financely Inc. (“Financely”) provides corporate-finance advice and is wholly owned by Aurora Bay Trust, a trust formed under Bahamian law, together with its authorized affiliates. Depending on deal structure, jurisdiction, and local rules, engagements may be carried out through Financely Group LLC, a non-deposit-taking, non-banking financial company; Ashford Capital Advisory LLC; or another related entity.
Financely and its affiliates are not registered as securities broker-dealers and do not execute securities transactions or hold client funds or securities. When a mandate involves the purchase or sale of securities and a registered intermediary is required, any orders are introduced to and executed by one or more independent U.S. broker-dealers registered with the SEC and FINRA. Those broker-dealers are solely responsible for trade execution, custody, and related regulatory obligations. Nothing in this material constitutes an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any security or to engage in any specific transaction. Before engaging Financely Group LLC, Ashford Capital Advisory LLC, or any affiliate, you are responsible for confirming that such engagement complies with your own legal, regulatory, tax, and other requirements. In the United States, certain advisory activities may be conducted in reliance on exemptions available under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, including the “foreign private adviser” exemption where applicable. Our services and regulatory status may vary by jurisdiction and by transaction type.
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