Documentary Collections Explained
Documentary Collections are a bank-to-bank way to hand over shipping documents only when the buyer pays or promises to pay. No bank promise to pay. Banks handle papers and instructions, not performance. If you want a middle ground between open account and a Letter of Credit, this is it.
Outcome:
seller keeps control of title documents until the buyer pays at sight or accepts a time draft, using banks to transmit and release documents under clear rules.
What It Is
Definition
A seller ships goods, sends documents to their bank with instructions, and the buyer gets those documents from their bank once payment conditions are met. Governed in practice by URC 522.
Two main flavors
D/P
Documents against Payment, also called Cash Against Documents. D/A
Documents against Acceptance, where the buyer accepts a time draft and pays at maturity.
Who Does What
| Party |
Role |
| Seller (Exporter) |
Ships goods, draws a draft if D/A, prepares document set, instructs remitting bank. |
| Remitting Bank |
Sends documents and instructions to the collecting bank. No payment guarantee. |
| Collecting/Presenting Bank |
Presents documents to buyer, collects funds or acceptance, releases documents per instructions. |
| Buyer (Importer) |
Pays at sight for D/P or accepts the draft for D/A to obtain documents and take delivery. |
How It Works Step by Step
| Step |
What Happens |
Notes |
| 1. Contract |
Buyer and seller agree D/P or D/A, documents, and who pays bank charges. |
Keep document list lean and realistic. |
| 2. Ship |
Seller ships goods and obtains transport documents and any inspection or insurance required. |
Title usually sits with original B/L until release. |
| 3. Lodge with bank |
Seller submits documents and collection instruction to the remitting bank. |
Quote URC 522 in your instruction. |
| 4. Present to buyer |
Collecting bank presents to buyer for payment (D/P) or acceptance (D/A). |
Buyer examines documents commercially, not the bank. |
| 5. Release documents |
On payment or on acceptance, bank releases the documents to the buyer. |
Buyer uses B/L to take delivery from carrier. |
| 6. Settlement |
Funds remitted to the seller for D/P, or collected at maturity for D/A. |
For D/A the buyer must honor the draft at due date. |
D/P vs D/A Compared
| Item |
D/P Documents against Payment |
D/A Documents against Acceptance |
| Release trigger |
Buyer pays sight to get documents |
Buyer accepts time draft to get documents |
| Seller risk |
Lower, since title stays until payment |
Higher, buyer gets goods before paying |
| Buyer cash impact |
Pays on arrival or presentation |
Gets credit until maturity |
| Funding options for seller |
Post-shipment loan against documents or expected proceeds |
Discount or forfait the accepted draft if avalised or with strong buyer |
Where The Risk Sits and How To Cut It
Bank does not guarantee payment
Collections are documentary handling only. If buyer refuses, bank will not pay. If you need a promise, use a confirmed LC or ask for an aval on the draft.
Country and FX risk
Buyer may be willing but blocked by capital controls or FX. Hedge and consider confirmation or insurance on larger exposures.
Dishonor at maturity
For D/A, reduce tenor, require bank aval on the bill of exchange, or insure buyer risk. Never rely on hope at maturity.
Logistics and storage costs
If buyer refuses D/P, goods sit at port. Plan for storage, re consign, or resale options in the sales contract.
Typical Document Set
| Document |
Purpose |
| Commercial Invoice |
Value and description matching the contract. |
| Packing List |
Marks, weights, and counts for clearance. |
| Transport Document |
Original B/L or airway bill controls title and delivery. |
| Certificate of Origin |
Tariff and compliance at import. |
| Inspection or Quality Cert |
If agreed in contract for acceptance. |
| Bill of Exchange (Draft) |
Only for D/A. Buyer accepts to commit to pay at maturity. |
When Documentary Collections Make Sense
Moderate risk counterparties
You trust the buyer enough to ship, but want document control to stop free delivery.
Ports where B/L control works
Buyers cannot clear cargo without the original B/L or release. Good leverage for D/P.
Lower fee tolerance
Cheaper than a confirmed LC, faster to set up than a full LC program.
Short logistics windows
Where a clean D/P can settle around arrival without long banking cycles.
Fees And Who Pays
| Charge |
Typical Payer |
Comment |
| Collection handling |
Seller or buyer per contract |
Remitting and collecting bank each charge. |
| Acceptance commission (D/A) |
Buyer |
If the bank avalises, extra fee applies. |
| Courier, SWIFT, storage |
Usually buyer |
Agree in contract to avoid arguments. |
How To Finance Under Collections
Seller side
D/P with post-shipment loan against collection documents. D/A with discounting if the draft is avalised by the buyer’s bank. Trade credit insurance plus receivables finance once acceptance is recorded.
Buyer side
Import loan or trust receipt to fund D/P at arrival. For D/A, match tenor to your cash cycle and hedge FX upfront.
Do This, Not That
| Do |
Avoid |
| Spell out D/P or D/A in the contract with who pays bank charges. |
Vague payment terms like CAD without detail on timing and charges. |
| Keep document list short and standard. |
Exotic certificates that your corridor cannot issue on time. |
| For D/A, seek a bank aval on the draft. |
Long tenors with weak buyers and no guarantees. |
| Plan a fallback if buyer refuses D/P. |
Shipping without resell or storage options at destination. |
How We Make Collections Work In Real Life
Clean instruction pack
URC 522 based instructions for your remitting bank. Clear release conditions and fee splits that stop delays.
Funding route
Post-shipment loans for D/P. Avalised draft discounting or insurance-backed receivables finance for D/A.
Risk add-ons
Bank aval, standby for payment, or credit insurance layered to suit the buyer and corridor.
Logistics plan
B/L routing and release options that keep leverage if the buyer stalls.
Set Up Documentary Collections That Actually Close
Send your sales contract, corridor, and document list. We will return a bank instruction pack, a funding route for D/P or D/A, and a timeline that matches your vessel and clearance dates.
Start the Process
This page is informational. Banks handling documentary collections do not guarantee payment. Any funding or risk cover is subject to independent approval, KYC and AML checks, and executed documentation. Terms vary by buyer quality, corridor, and market conditions.