SBLC vs Bank Guarantees vs Demand Guarantees
Buyers, contractors, and project sponsors throw these terms around as if they were interchangeable. They are not. SBLCs are documentary credits with an independent bank undertaking. Bank guarantees can be accessory or independent depending on wording and local law. Demand guarantees are independent undertakings payable on a simple compliant demand. Get the label and the rule set wrong and you risk injunctions, higher pricing, or outright rejection.
Plain-English definitions
Standby Letter of Credit (SBLC)
A bank’s independent promise to pay on presentation of specified documents stating default. Usually issued under ISP98
or less often UCP600. It is a letter of credit, not a contract surety.
Bank Guarantee (BG)
Generic term. In some jurisdictions it is an accessory
suretyship tied to the underlying contract. In others, wording can make it payable on demand and independent. Always check governing law and text.
Demand Guarantee
An independent
undertaking to pay against a simple written demand and any stated documents. Commonly issued “subject to URDG 758.”
Rule sets and how they change your risk
ISP98 for SBLCs
- Purpose-built for standbys: presentation, notice of dishonor, transfer, extend-or-pay, automatic amendments.
- Bank deals in documents only. Independence from the underlying contract.
- Use when the instrument is clearly a standby, not a performance bond labeled as a “BG.”
URDG 758 for Demand Guarantees
- Applies when the guarantee expressly says “subject to URDG 758.”
- Sets demand content, extend-or-pay mechanics, presentation, counter-guarantees, and examination standards.
- Best for on-demand bid, advance, and performance undertakings where a draft or invoice proof is not the point.
Independence vs accessory: the real fork in the road
Independent instruments (SBLCs under ISP98 and demand guarantees under URDG 758) are payable against documents, regardless of disputes in the underlying contract. Accessory guarantees track the debtor’s obligation and open the door to defenses. Drafting decides the outcome. If you want true on-demand protection, say “payable on first written demand” and opt into ISP98 or URDG 758. If you intend a secondary suretyship, say so and accept the litigation risk that comes with it.
How different regions treat SBLCs and guarantees
United States
- Letters of credit, including SBLCs, sit in UCC Article 5. ICC rules like UCP600 or ISP98 can be incorporated by reference.
- “Bank guarantee” is not a standard banking product term in US law. For independent undertakings, banks issue SBLCs.
- Courts protect letter-of-credit autonomy. Fraud is a narrow exception. Plan on paying against compliant papers and litigating later.
United Kingdom and European Union
- Common law supports autonomy of on-demand instruments. Landmark authority: Edward Owen Engineering v Barclays Bank
on paying “on demand without proof.”
- For capital and regulatory treatment, EU banks apply the CRR
and EBA guidance on unfunded credit protection. Legal effectiveness and timely payout drive eligibility of guarantees in risk models.
- Result: properly worded demand guarantees are treated as independent undertakings in practice. Accessory guarantees face more friction.
Middle East (UAE and KSA)
- UAE: Bank guarantees are addressed in the Civil Code and the updated Commercial Transactions Law 2022. Wording can make them independent on-demand obligations. Local court practice focuses on text, purpose, and banking regs.
- Saudi Arabia: Shari’a-based system. Courts can restrain calls to prevent greater harm or clear abuse. All-monies or vague wording may struggle. Expect more judicial discretion than in England or Singapore.
India
- “Guarantee” is defined under the Indian Contract Act. Courts strongly uphold unconditional bank guarantees and demand bonds. Injunctions are rare, limited to fraud or egregious injustice.
- RBI issues master circulars governing banks’ guarantee business. Public sector and large private banks now support e-BG
issuance and verification via SFMS/NeSL, which reduces fraud risk.
China
- The Supreme People’s Court issued detailed provisions on independent guarantees
in 2016. They recognize URDG-style independence and set rules on fraud, suspension of payment, governing law, and jurisdiction.
- Takeaway: you can run true demand guarantees in China, but follow the SPC rules and keep the wording tight.
Which one should you use and when
Pick SBLC (ISP98)
- Cross-border trade, project milestones, lease or PPA security where counterparties and banks know standbys.
- You need extend-or-pay mechanics and clean documentary rules.
Pick Demand Guarantee (URDG 758)
- Bid bonds, advance payment, performance guarantees with simple demand wording.
- Public works or EPC employers who require “on first demand.”
Use “BG” only with precision
- If local practice treats “BG” as accessory, do not expect on-demand behavior.
- If you truly need on-demand, call it a demand guarantee and opt into URDG 758.
Drafting keys that avoid headaches
- Name the rule set: “This standby is subject to ISP98” or “This guarantee is subject to URDG 758.”
- State the independence clearly: “Payable on first written demand without proof.”
- Fix the demand contents: exactly what must be signed and by whom.
- Clarify expiry, extend-or-pay, and maximum liability.
- Pick governing law and courts that respect autonomy of demand instruments.
Pricing drivers banks actually care about
Issuer and corridor risk
Name of the issuing bank, beneficiary jurisdiction, and enforceability history for on-demand calls.
Wording and rule set
ISP98 and URDG 758 reduce ambiguity and improve discounting or confirmation appetite.
Frequently asked questions
Is an SBLC the same as a bank guarantee?
No. An SBLC is a letter of credit. A “bank guarantee” may be independent or accessory depending on law and text. When in doubt, use ISP98 for standbys or URDG 758 for demand guarantees.
Can a court stop a call on an on-demand instrument?
Only in narrow cases. England focuses on fraud. Singapore allows injunctions for fraud or unconscionability. Saudi courts have broader discretion. Expect variance by forum.
Which rule set is better, ISP98 or URDG 758?
Use ISP98 for standbys and URDG 758 for demand guarantees. Do not mix them. Pick the one that matches the instrument’s purpose.
How do EU banks treat guarantees for regulatory capital?
As unfunded credit protection if eligibility conditions are met under the CRR and EBA guidance. Legal effectiveness, independence, and payout certainty are key tests.
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