Foreign Exchange Operations of Trust Bank Limited

The main objective of this report is to analysis Foreign Exchange Operations of Trust Bank Limited. General objectives of this reports are to apply theoretical knowledge into practical arena, to be familiar with the banking management systems and evaluate the performance of foreign exchange division, the return on export, import and remittance. Here also estimate the cost of export, import and remittance and foreign exchange earnings as compared to total earnings interest income and non-interest income.

Introduction:

The purpose of banking is to ensure transfer of money from surplus unit to deficit units. Bank in all countries work as the as the repository of money. The owners look for safety and amount of interest for their deposits with Banks. Entrepreneurs try to obtain money from the banks as working capital and for long-term investment. These entrepreneurs welcome effective and forward-looking advice for investment. Banking sector thus owe a great to the deposit holders on the hand and the entrepreneurs on the other. They are expected to play the role of friend, philosopher, and guide for the deposit holders and the entrepreneurs.

Since liberation, Bangladesh passed through fragile phases of development in the banking sector. The nationalization of banks in the post liberation period was intended to safe the institutions and the interest of the depositors. Those handling the banking sector have borne the burden of putting banks on reliable footings. Despite all that was done, some elements of irregularities appeared. With the assertion of the role of the Central bank, The Bangladesh bank started adopting measures for putting banking institutions on right track. Yet the performance of public sector management of banks left some negative effects in the money market in particular and the economy in general. The agility among the borrowers manipulates the banking sector as a whole. In effect, a default culture appeared on the scene.

The opening of private and foreign participants to the banking sector was intended to obtain desirable results from banking. The authorization of private banks was designed to create competition among the banks and competition in the from of efficiency with and the productivity in enterprises funded by banks. Unfortunately, for the people, at large banking sector is yet to obtain the credit for efficiency, credibility, and growth.

The clever, among the user of banking services, have influenced the management of banks, for obtaining short-term and long-term loans. They sometimes showed inflated to get money for investment in business and industry. Few diverted their loan money to purposes different from the loan proposals, and invested in non-profitable units have failed to repay their loans to the banks. For this reason new entrepreneurs are not getting capital while defaulting entrepreneurs have started obtaining either relief in the form of rescheduling of the repayment program or additional inevitable money for diversified units.

Objective of the Study

The main objective of the study are to evaluate the performance of the foreign trade of Trust Bank Ltd. and to have an overall idea on how it operates and what functions it does, and prepare a report on it. Besides this main objective there are some specific objectives.

General Objective

The General Objective is to prepare & submit a report on the topic “Foreign Exchange Management of Trust Bank Ltd.”.

Specific Objective

To apply theoretical knowledge into practical arena
To be familiar with the banking management systems
To evaluate the performance of foreign exchange division
The return on export, import and remittance.
Estimate the cost of export, import and remittance
Foreign exchange earnings as compared to total earnings interest income and non-interest income.
To analyze the financing systems of the Bank and find out whether the bank needs any improvement to be done and make greater contribution towards the country’s economy.
To familiarize the working hours, values and environment of the bank.
To explain the role of Financial Institution of Trust Bank Ltd. in facilitating international trade.
To describe the detail operational procedure of Correspondence Banking services & it’s associated benefits.
To familiarize different rules and regulation of export and import formalities.

Background of “Trust Bank Ltd.”

Trust Bank Ltd. is a private, commercial, scheduled Bank, which obtained license from Bangladesh Bank on July 15,1999. Presently Army Welfare Trust is the major shareholder. The authorized capital of the Bank is Taka two thousand million and paid-up capital of Taka five hundred million. Public shares are expected to be floated in the near future. The Bank was formally inaugurated and listed as a scheduled Bank on November 1999.

The idea of setting up a Bank by Bangladesh Army was first conceived in 1987 and on November 29, 1999 the first branch of Trust Bank Ltd. came into operation.

Composition of the Board of TBL consists of Ex-officio Directors of in-service senior Army personnel, with the Chief of Army Staff as its Chairman and the Adjutant General as its Vice-Chairman.

Trust Bank Ltd. having a spread network of 20 branches across Bangladesh and plans to open few more branches to cover the important commercial areas in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and other areas in 2006. The Bank sponsored by the Army Welfare Trust (AWT), is first of its kind in the country with a wide range of modern corporate and consumer financial products. Trust Bank Ltd. has been operating in Bangladesh since 1999 and has achieved public confidence as a sound and stable Bank.

In order to provide up-to-date information on the bank at fingertips to the trade and business communities of the world, their own IT team has developed a E-mail address and a web page for the bank. It can be accessed to under the domain: tbl@global-bd.net and www.trustbankbd.com

In addition to ensuring quality, Customer services related to general banking the bank also deals in Foreign Exchange transactions. In the mean time, the bank has extended credit facilities to almost all the sector of the country’s economy. The bank has plans to invest extensively in the country’s industrial and agricultural sectors in the coming days.

It has also plans to promote the agro-based industries of the country. The bank has already participated in syndicated loan agreement with other banks to promote textile sectors of the country. Such participation would continue in the future for greater interest of the overall economy. Keeping in mind the client’s financial and banking needs the bank is engaged in constantly improving its services to the clients and launching new and innovative products to provide better services towards fulfillment of growing demands of its customers.

Trust bank limited recently at the end of the year 2006 changed their name from “The Trust Bank Limited” to “Trust Bank Limited” and also changed their logo to bring the bank more closer to the general public.

Nature of Business

Trust Bank Ltd offers full range of banking services that include:-

Deposit banking
Loans & advances
Export
Import
Financing inland
International remittance facilities
Passport Services

The bank offers a full scale commercial banking includes:–

Foreign Exchange transactions
Personal
Credit
Consumer & Corporate Banking

The bank has plans to invest extensively in the country’s industrial and agricultural sectors in the coming days. The bank has participated in syndicated loan agreement with other banks. Such participation would continue in the further for greater interest of the overall economy. The bank is keen to constantly improve its services to the clients and launching new & innovative products to provide better services towards fulfillment of growing demands of its customers.

International Trade:

International trade involves a flow of goods from seller to buyer in accordance with a contract of sale. It is the exchange of goods and services between peoples of different countries.

Reason for International Trade:

Main reason for international trade is as follows:

Uneven resources distribution: Different countries have different amounts of natural resources, while other might have not. Therefore, countries need to exchange goods to satisfy mutual needs and wants.
The lack of self-sufficiency: Each country can obtain those goods that each alone can not produce or obtain the resources or materials to turn them into finished products.
Specialization: The need for trade will arise because a country cannot survive with only one kind of goods (specialization goods).
Economic principal of comparative advantage: It is mutually beneficial if each country specializes in producing the goods which is has a greater advantage and obtains those goods from other countries that it cannot produce cheaply at home.
Differences in the demand of goods among countries: Some countries, which are producers of certain goods, still have to import the same goods from abroad. This may due to the insufficient supply locally to meet the strong demand for the goods.

Benefits of International Trade

Some major benefits of international trade are:

A gain in output for the participating countries: International trade enables a country to specialize in the production of goods and services in which it has comparative advantages.
Better living standard: Specialization in production makes goods cheaper, so the standard of living is improved.
Economics of scale: As countries specialize in the production of goods and services, they are able to operate on a larger scale, and thus enjoy the benefits arising from the economics of scale.
Transfer of technology: The transfer of technology automatically accompanies an exchange of goods because nation can learn from the products of other nations (Computer Software).
Improving International Relationship: With more trade activities and closer contact, there comes an exchange of culture and ideas resulting in better understanding among the nation.
Maintaining price stability: With international trade, shortage of resources and goods can be solved by imports. Demand and supply can be brought closer together. Price fluctuation can be minimized.
International trade encourages competitions: Competitions may help to prevent the growth of domestic’s monopolies. Efficiency in production can be achieved.

Problems in International Trade

Problems associated with International Trade are as follows:

Risk of goods, Fraud, Credit risk, Risk of foreign exchange, Differences in legal systems among countries, Differences in political systems among countries, Economic divergence. The political and economic condition in one country may deteriorate etc.

The Role of Banks in Enhancing International Trade

Provision of advances: The Provision of finance to importers (e.g. trust receipt facility, documentary credit facility) and exporters (e.g. negotiation of export bills, purchase of bills for collection) encourages enterprises to engage in trade and enhances their liquidity position.
Provision of alteration payment methods: Importers may not accept the payment of cash in advance, which gives exporters the greatest protections. On the other hand, the exporters may not accept open account, which gives importers the best payment methods. A letter of credit, through bank channels overcomes the disadvantages of these two settlement methods and satisfies to a great extent, both the importer and exporters. So with help of banks trading volumes can be enlarged.
Medium of fund transfer: A banking system allows payment to be made safely and quickly by one party to another, e.g. telegraphic transfer.
Export advance from banks: In case of any queries as to the trading terms especially those related to documentary credit (D/C) transaction, traders can ask for their bankers advises.

Balance of payments:

The balance of payments is a bookkeeping system for recording all payments that have a direct bearing on the movement of funds between a nation (private sector and government) and foreign countries.

Balance of payments Considerations:

Balance of payments considerations were more important than they are under the current management floating regime. When a no reserve currency country is running balance-of-payments deficits. To keep from running out of these reserves, it had to implement concretionary monetary policy to strengthen its currency.

Current Account
Capital Account

Letter of Credit:

Letter of Credit can be defined as a Credit Contract where by the buyer’s bank is committed (on behalf of the buyer) to place an agreed amount of money at the seller’s disposal ur1er some agreed conditions. Since the agreed condition include among other things, the presentation of some specified documents, the Letter of Credit is called

Documentary Credit (D/C) classification

Documentary Credit can be classified as follows-

Red Clause Credit

A Red Clause credit is a special type of credit with a clause inserted which authorized the advising or confirming bank to make advances to the beneficiary before presentation of the documents.

The clause is added in the documentary credit at the request of the applicant for the credit. In other words, it is a pre-shipment finance in their form of a loan the advising/confirming bank provides to the beneficiary, with payment of principal and interest guaranteed by the issuing bank of the credit, which in turn has a right of recourse to the applicant in case the beneficiary fails to ship goods and defaults in payment of the advances.

The credit specifics the amount of the advances to be given to the beneficiary, which can be in the form of a percentage or a fixed sum.

Finance is given against undertaking from beneficiary certifying that he promise to ship goods and submit documents to advising bank, which has provided him with finance.

Possible risk in issuing a red clause credit

Exporter may use the advance for other purpose
Documents presented from the exporter may have discrepancies unacceptable to the importer

Revolving Credit

A revolving credit is a credit, which provides for the amount of the credit to be renewed automatically after use without the need to renew the credit every time. It can be revolved with respect to either:

time or
amount (i.e. total value of the credit)

A revolving credit “with respect to time” can be cumulative or non-cumulative. A cumulative revolving credit allows any unused credit amount of a previous month to be carried forward to the next month. A non-cumulative revolving credit, on the other hand, provides for a maximum amount of credit to be drawn each month. If the exporter fails to draw for the month, the amount in the month (full amount or any utilized balance) will be forfeited automatically.

Transferable Letter of Credit

A transferable letter of credit, which can be transferred in whole or in part by the original beneficiary to one or more “second beneficiaries”. It is normally used when the first beneficiary does not supply the goods himself, but acts as a middleman between the supplier and the ultimate buyer.

Back-to-Back Letter of Credit

A Back-to-Back letter of credit is a new credit. It is different from the original credit based on which the bank undertakes the risk under the back-to-back credit. In this case, the bank’s main surety/security is the original credit (Master L/C). The original credit (Selling credit) and the back to back credit (Buying Credit) are separate instruments independent of each other and in no way legally connected, although they both from part of the same business operation. The suppliers (beneficiary of the back to back credit) ships goods to the importer or suppliers goods to the exporter and presents documents to the bank as is specified in the credit. It is intendment that the exporter would substitute his own documents for negotiation under the original credit, his liability under the back to back credit would be adjusted out of these proceeds. The export L/C is marked lien and no margin is taken. So we can say that Back to Back is a term given to an ancillary credit which arises where the seller used the credit granted to him by the Issuing Bank to his suppliers.

Confirmed Credit

If a letter of credit is confirmed by a bank (the advising bank), this means, in addition to the definite undertaking to the issuing bank to honor beneficiary’s draft, the advising bank makes also it’s promise to pay the beneficiary. Such confirmation by the advising bank not only confirms the undertaking of the issuing bank but also constitutes an additional promise on the part of the advising bank (which becomes a confirming bank).

Documentary credit may be either:

Revocable Credit:

A revocable credit is a credit, which can be amended are cancelled by the issuing bank at any time without prior notice to the seller.

Irrevocable Credit:

An irrevocable credit constitutes a definite undertaking of the issuing bank (since it cannot be amended or cancelled without the agreement of all parties thereto), provided that the stipulated documents are resented and the seller satisfies the terms and conditions. This sort of credit always referred to revocable letter of credit.

Parties related to a letter of credit:

The parties are:

The issuing bank.
The advising bank
The beneficiary.

Other parties, which facilitate the documentary credit, are:

The applicant
The confirming bank , if any
The negotiating bank/applicant bank
The transferring bank, if any.

The parties of L/C:

Importer: Buyer who applies for opening an L/C.

Issuing Bank: It is the bank which opens/issues a L/C on behalf of the importer.

Confirming Bank: It is the bank, which adds its confirmation to the credit and it is done at request of issuing bank. Confirming bank may or may not be the advising bank.

Advising/Notifying Bank: It is the bank through which the L/C is advised to the exporters. This bank is actually situated in exporter’s country. It may also assume the role of confirming and/or negotiating bank depending upon the condition of the credit.

Negotiating Bank: It is the bank that negotiates the bills and pays the amount of the beneficiary. The advising bank and the negotiating bank may or may not be the same. Sometimes it can also be confirming bank.

Paying/Accepting Bank: It is the bank on which the bill will be drawn (as per condition of the credit). Usually it is the issuing bank

Reimbursing Bank: It is the bank that would reimburse the negotiating bank after getting payment instruction from issuing bank.

Import Section

Banks play a very important role in effecting foreign exchange transaction of a country. Mainly transaction with overseas countries in respect of imports, exports and foreign remittance come under the purview of foreign transactions. Banks are the vital sector by which such transactions are settled. Central Bank records all sorts of Foreign Exchange transaction and therefore, transaction effected by the Banks and other authorized dealers are to be reported regularly (viz. daily, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, yearly etc) to Bangladesh Bank.

Functions of Foreign Exchange Division of Trust Bank Ltd.

Imports

Opening of letter of credit
Advance bills
Bills for collection
Import loans and guarantee

Exports

Exports Pre-shipment advances
Purchase of foreign bills
Negotiation of foreign bills
Export guarantees
Advising/Confirming letters—letters of credit
Advance for deferred payment Exports
Advance against bills for collection

Remittances

Issue of DD, MT, TT, etc.
Payment of DD, MT, TT, etc.
Issue and enhancement of travelers cheques
Sale and enhancement of foreign currency notes
Non-resident accounts

Dealings

Rate computation
Maintenance of foreign currency accounts
Forward contracts
Exchange position & cover operations

The Most Commonly Used Documents in Foreign Exchange:

(a) Documentary Letter of Credit

(b) Bill of Exchange

(d) Commercial invoice

(e) Certificate of origin of goods

(f) Inspection certificate

(g) Packing list

(h) Insurance policy

(i) Proforma invoice/Indent

(j) Master receipt

(k) G.S.P. certificate

(a) Documentary Credit:

In simple terms, a documentary credit is a conditional bank undertaking of payment. Expressed more fully, it is a written undertaking by a bank (issuing bank) given to the seller (beneficiary) at the request, and in accordance with the instructions, of the buyer (applicant) to effect payment (that is, by making a payment, or accepting or negotiating bills of exchange) up to a stated sum of money, within a prescribe time limit and against stipulated documents.

These stipulated documents are likely to include those required for commercial, official, insurance, or transport purpose, such as commercial invoice, certificate of origin, insurance policy or certificate, and bill of lading or combined transport document.

There are various types of documentary credits. A revocable credit can be amended or cancelled at any time without prior warning or notification to the seller. An irrevocable credit can be amended or cancelled only with the agreement of all parties thereto. As there are often two banks involved, the issuing bank and the advising bank, the buyer can ask an irrevocable credit to be confirmed by the advising bank. If the advising bank agrees, the irrevocable credit becomes a confirmed irrevocable credit.

The customary clauses contained in a L/C are the following,-

A clause authorizing the beneficiary to draw bills of exchange up to a certain on the opener.
List of shipping documents, which are to accompany the bills.
Description of the goods to be shipped.
An undertaking by the opening bank that bills drawn in accordance with the conditions will be duly honored.
Instructions to the negotiating bank for obtaining reimbursement of payments under the credit.

Parties to a letter of credit:

The parties to a L/C are,-

Importer/buyer
Opening bank/Issuing bank
Exporter/Seller/Beneficiary
Advising bank/Notifying bank
Negotiating bank
Confirming bank
Paying/Reimbursing bank

(b) Bill Of Lading:

A bill of lading is a document that is usually stipulated in a credit when the goods are dispatched by sea. It is evidence of a contract of carriage, is a receipt for the goods, and is a document of title to the goods. It also constituted a document that is, or may be, needed to support an insurance claim.

The details on the bill of lading should include-

A description of the goods in general terms not inconsistent with in the credit
Identify marks and numbers, if any
The name of the carrying vessel
Evidence that the goods have been loaded on board
The ports of shipment and discharge
The names of shipper, consignee and name address of notifying party
Whether freight has been paid or is payable at destination
The number of original bills of lading issued
The date of issuance

A bill of lading specifically stating that goods are loaded for ultimate destination specifically mentioned in the credit.

(c) Commercial Invoice:

A commercial invoice is the accounting document by which the seller charges the goods to the buyer. A commercial invoice normally includes the following information:

Date
Name and address of buyer and seller
Order or contract number, quantity and description of the goods, unit price and the total price.
Weight of the goods, number of packages, and shipping marks and numbers.
Terms of delivery and payment
Shipment details.

(d) Certificate Of Origin:

A certificate of origin is a signed statement providing evidence of the origin of the goods.

(e) Inspection Certificate:

This is usually issued by an independent inspection company located in the exporting country certifying or describing the quality, specification or other aspects of the goods, as called for in the contract and/or the L/C. The inspection company is usually nominated by the buyer who also indicates the types of inspection he wishes the company to undertake.

(f) Insurance Certificate:

The insurance certificate document must

Be that specified in the credit
Cover the risks specified in the credit

Be consistent with the other documents in its identification of the voyage and description of the goods

Unless otherwise specified in the credit
be a document issued and / or signed by an insurance company or its agent, or by underwriters
be dated on or before the date of the date shipment as evidenced by the shipping documents or establish that cover is effective at the latest from such date of shipment
be for an amount at least equal to the CIF value of the goods and in the currency of the credit.

Import Section

Import is foreign goods and services purchased by consumers, firms & Governments in Bangladesh .An importer must have Import Registration Certificate (IRC) given by Chief Controller of Import and Exports (CCI & E) to import any thing from other country. To obtain IRC the following certificate are required

Trade License
Income tax clearance certificate
Nationality certificate
Bank’s solvency certificate
Asset certificate
Registration partnership deed (if any)
Memorandum and article of association / certificate of incorporation (if any)
Rent receipt of the business premises
Certificate of incorporation (if any)

Import Procedure:

To import through TBL, a customer requires-

Bank account
Import Registration Certificate
Tax Paying Identification Number
Proforma Invoice Indent
Membership Certificate
LC Application form duly attested
One set of IMP Form
Insurance Cover note with money receipt
Others

Import Mechanism:

To import, a person should be competent to be and importer’. According to Import and Export Control Act, 1950, the Office Of Chief Controller Of Import and Export provides the registration (IRC) to the importer. After obtaining this person has to secure a letter of credit authorization (LCA) from Bangladesh Bank. And then a person becomes a qualified importer. He is the person who requests or instructs the opening bank to open an L/C. He is also called opener or applicant of the credit.

Importer’s Application For L/C Limit/Margin:

To have an import L/C limit, an importer submits an application to the Department of EBL furnishing the following information, –

full particulars of bank account
nature of business
required amount of limit
payment terms and conditions
goods to be imported
offered security
repayment schedule

A credit Officer scrutinizes this application and accordingly prepares a proposal (CLP) and forwards it to the Head Office Credit Committee (HOCC). The Committee, if satisfied, sanctions the limit and returns back to the branch. Thus the importer is entitled for the limit.

The L/C Application:

TBL provides a printed form for opening of L/C to the importer. A special adhesive stamp is affixed on the form. While opening, the stamp is cancelled. Usually the importer expresses his desire to open the L/C quoting the amount of margin in percentage. The importer gives the following information,-

Full name and address of the importer.
Date and place of expiry of the credit
The mode of the transmission of document (mail/courier/telex)
Whether the confirmation of the credit is requested by the beneficiary or not
Whether the partial shipment is allowed or not
The type of loading (loading on board)
Brief description of the goods to be imported.
Availability of the credit by sight payment acceptance /negotiation/deferred payment.
The time bar within which the document should be presented.
Sales terms (FOB/C &F/CIF)
Account number
L/C amount
shipping mark
HS Code no of the goods to be imported.
IRC Number
LCA Number
Insurance cover note
Country of origin

The above information is given along with the following documents, –

Proforma Invoice stating description of the goods including quantity, unit price etc.
The insurance cover note, issuing company and the insurance number.
Four set of IMP Form.

Dispatching the import L/C:

After opening of import L/C, branch dispatches the L/C. branch sends an original copy of the L/C for negotiating and a copy to the advising bank for advising. It also sends reimbursing bank for reimbursement.

Radio Activity Report (applicable for import of foods only)

After receiving all the documents, the negotiating bank then checks the documents against the credit, if the documents are found in order, the bank will sends to the issuing bank.

Lodgment and Retirement Section:

Lodgment means retirement of funds. If the documents receiving from the negotiating bank also scrutinize the documents. The officer carefully examines the following points:

PAD:

This is the most sensitive task of the Import Department. The Officials have to be very much careful while making payment. This task constitutes following:

Date of payment:

Usually payment is made within seven days after the documents have been received. If payment is become deferred, the negotiating bank may claim interest for making delay.

Preparing sale memo:

A sale memo is made at B.C rate to the customer. As the T.T and O.D rate is paid to the ID, the difference between these two rates is exchange trading. Finally, an Inter Branch Exchange Trading Advice is sent to ID.

Requisition for the foreign currency:

For arranging necessary fund for payment, a requisition is sent to International Department.

Transmission of telex:

A telex is transmitted to the correspondent bank that payment is being made.

Loan against Imported Merchandise (L.I.M):

Loan against import merchandise through the bank may be allowed retaining margin prescribed on their Landed Cost, depending on the categories and credit restrictions imposed by the Bangladesh bank /head office from time to time. Branches shall also obtain letter of undertaking and indemnity from the clients, before getting goods cleared through LIM account. Clearance of the goods should be taken through Approved Clearing Agent of the Bank.

The following points must be taken to consideration while allowing advance against the security of imported goods.

Storage of imported goods under LIM facility may be allowed for specified time as prescribed by Bangladesh Bank /head office of the bank within which period importer should take delivery of the goods against payment, generally part delivery is not allowed from LIM account. This may however, be allowed only on specific request and consideration. While allowing part delivery, it must be ensured that the landed cost of the merchandise is properly worked out before the goods are delivered to the customers against proportionate payments. Landed cost of valuable and less valuable items should not be averaged together.

Export Section

There is profit to be made in exports. The international market is much larger than the local market. Growth rates in many overseas markets far outpace domestic market growth. And meeting and beating innovative competitors abroad can help companies keep the edge they need at home.

There are also real costs and risks associated with exporting. It is up to each company to weigh the necessary commitment against the potential benefit.

Ten important recommendations for successful exporting should be kept in mind:

Obtain qualified export counseling and develop a master international marketing plan before starting an export business. The plan should clearly define goals, objectives, and problems encountered.
Secure a commitment from top management to overcome the initial difficulties and financial requirements of exporting. Although the early delays and costs involved in exporting may seem difficult to justify in comparison with established domestic sales, the exporter should take a long-range view of this process and carefully monitor international marketing efforts.
Take sufficient care in selecting overseas distributors. The complications involved in overseas communications and transportation require international distributors to act more independently than their domestic counterparts.
Establish a basis for profitable operations and orderly growth. Although no overseas inquiry should be ignored, the firm that acts mainly in response to unsolicited trade leads is trusting success to the element of chance.
Devote continuing attention to export business when the local market booms. Too many companies turn to exporting when business falls off in the domestic market. When domestic business starts to boom again, they neglect their export trade or relegate it to a secondary position.
Treat international distributors on an equal basis with domestic counterparts. Companies often carry out institutional advertising campaigns, special discount offers, sales incentive programs, special credit term programs, warranty offers, and so on in the domestic market but fail to make similar offers to their international distributors.
Do not assume that a given market technique and product will automatically be successful in all countries. What works in Japan may fall flat in Saudi Arabia. Each market has to be treated separately to ensure maximum success.
Be willing to modify products to meet regulations or cultural preferences of other countries. Local safety and security codes as well as import restrictions cannot be ignored by foreign distributors.
Print service, sale, and warranty messages in locally understood languages. Although a distributor’s top management may speak English, it is unlikely that all sales and service personnel have this capability.
Provide readily available servicing for the product. A product without the necessary service support can acquire a bad reputation quickly.

Export LC Process

The letter of credit is a highly standardized instrument, which has evolved over many years into a reliable method of effecting payment for commercial transactions throughout the world. To ensure a seamless transaction when relying on an export letter of credit for payment, it is important to understand the responsibilities of the parties.

Elements of the Letter of Credit

Every letter of credit should be scrutinized as soon as it is received. Special attention should be paid to the following key elements.

Key Dates. These include the latest date for shipment, the number of days for presentation of documents, payment (in the case of deferred payment or time letters of credit), shipping frequency (in the case of a multiple shipment letter of credit), and the expiration date. These dates should be realistic and acceptable.
Amount. A letter of credit which says “about $X” means the exporter may draw 10% more or less. If the merchandise description calls for “about X” amount of product, then the exporter may ship 10% more or less.
Documentary Requirements. Documents should be obtainable in time to meet the latest date for presentation. Special consideration must be given requirements for consularized invoices, inspection certificates and evidence of prior notification.
Negotiability. The letter of credit can be freely negotiable or restricted to the counters of a named bank.

Export Financing

Export Financing can be two types: –

Pre-shipment Credit
Post Shipment Credit

Pre Shipment Credit

Pre Shipment credit, as the name suggest, is given to finance the activities of an exporter prior to the actual shipment of goods. Pre shipment credit is essentially a short-term credit and liquidated by negotiation or purchase of export bills covering the merchandise. Generally, the bank grants pre-shipment credit against irrevocable, confirmed, unrestricted letter of credit received by an exporter from an overseas buyer. Before extending pre-shipment credit, the bank takes into consideration the credit worthiness, export performance of the exporters and other documents and information which are otherwise required for sanction of loan as per the existing rules and regulation in force.

Export Cash Credit (Hypothecation)
Export Cash Credit (Pledge)
Export Cash Credit against Trust Receipt
Packing Credit
Back-to-Back Letter of Credit
Credit against Red-Clause Letter of Credit.

Export Cash Credit (Hypothecation)

Under this arrangement, a credit is sanction against hypothecation of the raw materials or finished goods for export. Such facility is allowed only to major exporters. As the bank has got no security in this case, except charge documents and lien of export L/C or contract, the bank normally insists on the exporter furnishing collateral security. The letter of hypothecation creates a charge against the merchandise in favor of the bank but neither the ownership nor the possession is passes to it.

Export Cash Credit (Pledge)

This credit facility is allowed against a pledge of exportable goods or raw materials. In this case, cash credit facilities are extended against the pledge of goods to be stored in the godown under bank’s control by signing a letter of pledge and other pledge documents. The exporter surrenders the physical possession of the goods to the bank’s effective control as security for payment of bank dues. In the event of failure of the exporter to honor his commitment, the bank can sell the pledge merchandise for recovery of the advance.

Export Credit against Trust Receipt

In this case, credit limit is sanctioned against Trust Receipt (TR). Here also, unlike the pledge, the exportable goods remain in the custody of the exporter. He is required to execute a stamped export trust receipt in favor of the bank, wherein a declaration is made that goods purchased with financial assistance’s of bank are held by him in trust for the bank. Thus type of credit is granted when the exporter wants to utilize the credit for processing, packing and rendering the goods in exportable condition and when it seems that exportable goods cannot be taken into bank’s custody. This facility is allowed only to the major party and collateral security is generally obtained in this case.

Packing Credit

In this case, credit facilities are extended against security of Railway Receipt/Steamer Receipt/Barge Receipt/Truck Receipt evidencing transportation of goods to the port for shipment of the goods in addition to the usual charge documents and lien of export letter of credit. This type of credit is sanctioned for the transitional period from dispatch of the goods till negotiation of the export documents. The drawings under export cash credit (hypothecation/pledge) limit are generally adjusted by drawings in packing credit limit which is in turn liquidated by negotiation of export documents.

Back-to-Back Letter of Credit

Under this arrangement, the bank finances export by opening a letter of credit on behalf of the exporter who has received a letter of credit from the overseas buyer. As he (the exporter) is required to purchase raw materials for producing exportable, this new letter of credit is opened in favor of the supplier of raw materials within or outside the country. Since the second letter of credit is opened on the strength of, and backed by, another letter of credit it is called back-to-back credit. The need for a back-to-back credit arises because the beneficiary of the original (export) letter of credit may have to procure the raw materials from the actual producer or supplier, who may not supply the raw materials unless its payment is guaranteed by the bank in the form of letter of credit. The bank’s credit related to back-to-back L/C is realized subsequently from export proceeds.

Advance against a Red-clause Letter of Credit

Under a Red clause letter of credit, the opening bank authorizes the advising bank/negotiation bank to make an advance to the beneficiary prior to shipment to enable him to procure and store the exportable goods in anticipation of his effecting the shipment and submitting a bill under the L/C. As the clause containing such authority is printed/typed in red ink, the L/C is called Red Clause L/C. Though it is not prohibited, it is very rare in Bangladesh.

Post-Shipment Credit

Post Shipment credit refers to the credit facilities extended to the exporters by the banks after shipment of the goods against export documents. Necessity for such credit arises, as the exporter cannot afford to wait for a long time without paying manufacturers/suppliers. Before extending such credit, it is necessary for banks to look carefully into the financial soundness of exporters and buyers as well as other relevant documents connected with the export in accordance with the rules and regulation in force. Banks in our country extend post-shipment credit to the exporter through:

Negotiation of documents under L/C
Purchase of DP & DA Bills
Advance against Export Bills surrendered for collection

Negotiation of Documents under L/C

Under this arrangement, after the goods are shipped, the exporter submits the concerned documents to the negotiating bank for negotiation. The documents should be negotiated strictly in accordance with the terms and conditions and within the period mentioned in the letter of credit. If the documents are found to comply to comply with the terms and conditions of L/C, the bank may purchase/discount the draft/documents.

Purchase of DP & DA Bills

In such a case, the bank purchased/discount the DP (Documents against Payment) and DA (Documents against Acceptance) bills operated under the payment method of documentary collection. While doing so, the banks should scrutinize all the export documents separately and minutely, and clear instructions have to be obtained from the drawer of the bill in regard to all-important issues related to the negotiation of the bills.

Purchase and discount of bills under open account mode of payment has not been found to be practiced by the banks in Bangladesh.

Advances against Bills for Collection

Banks generally accept export bills for collection of proceeds when they are not drawn under an L/C or when the documents, even though drawn against an L/C contain some discrepancies. The bank generally negotiates bills drawn under L/C, without any discrepancy in the documents and the exporter gets the money from the bank immediately. However, if the bill is not eligible for negotiation, the exporter may obtain an advance from the bank against the security of export bills. In addition to the export bills, banks may ask for collateral security like a guarantee by a third party or an equitable/registered mortgage of property.

Findings and Recommendations

At the time of preparing the report I have find out some problem that the bank faces in operating its foreign exchange related activities. If they can overcome the limitations then they will be able to perform their activities more efficiently and effectively. Major findings of the foreign exchange business and the suggestion that will help the bank to overcome the challenge are listed below:

(i) At the theoretical framework chapter it is reviewed that foreign exchange business is highly dependent on the world economic situation. Any change in the world economic situation will affect the business. .So for eliminating the risk of foreign exchange business, the bank should higher expert who can understand the future economic situation and can take initiative based on the forecast. Again the bank can achieve success from the economy if they can handle the situation efficiently.

(ii) Administration of foreign exchange business is not a simple issue as this business is operated by following the rules and regulations of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).And sometimes bank has to suffer from misinterpretation of the rules of ICC So bank should improve their research centre and training centre to enrich the knowledge regarding Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credit (UCPDC).

(iii) By analyzing the performance of the foreign exchange division of TBL it can be seen that foreign exchange income is a major component of net operating income of the bank. But management of this division is not so much effective to handle the problem that the division faces in critical moment of world financial market. That is there is a great chance that the bank has to face a loss on their international trade payment related transaction .So I recommend that the bank should improve its management of international division who are responsible for handling their foreign exchange related risk. Again the bank should maintain correspondence relationship with the bank that will help them to settle their payment and receipt regarding foreign exchange transaction.

Conclusion

Over the last few decades there have taken place dramatic transformation in the area of foreign exchange and financing of foreign trade. In the wake of these changes the financial experts have developed a whole range of new ideas and techniques on management exchange rates, investment of foreign exchange reserve and most of all management of exchange risks. Banking sector of Bangladesh is passing through a tremendous reform under the economic deregulation and opening up the economy .Currently this sector is becoming extremely competitive with the arrival of multinational banks as well as technological infrastructure, effective foreign trade management, higher performance level and utmost customer satisfaction. Again the advent of a new era of information technology has changed the ways banks handle their foreign exchange related transaction. As a commercial bank Trust Bank has to manage their foreign currency exchange risk to overcome the challenges of loss of foreign exchange business.. We know that institutional support is necessary for undertaking international trade and foreign exchange business. On the other hand expertise regarding management of exchange rate is essential for successful operation of foreign exchange related transaction. By undertaking these activities efficiently Trust Bank will be able to maximize their profit and wealth maximization objectives. Trust Bank Ltd undertakes and support foreign exchange business and management of exchange rate in different way. But some improvement regarding exchange rate risk minimization is necessary for handling the competition that arises from competitive financial market, as the foreign exchange division of the bank has an influential effect to the net operating income and net income of the bank. Recently this division has achieved quite success as they have achieved permission to perform most of the foreign exchange related transaction. But rival among local and foreign banks will make the act ivies of the bank more competitive in the near future. So the bank have to perform the foreign exchange transaction in a more innovative way .So Trust Bank has to reengineer its plan and reform the service improvement strategy to retain the higher performance level, customer satisfaction and to compete with challenges.

In upshot it can be recommended that foreign exchange business can become successful when it can capture the existing system in more efficient way and can minimize the exchange rate risk by improving their knowledge regarding world financial market and can align with the business requirement. Efficiency of the business has to be strongly controlled and monitored. Client friendliness is another important issue to be considered. Business to work smoothly should not only focus on foreign currency exchange risk minimization but also broaden its service regarding international payment, purchase order, sales invoice, correspondence relationship maintenance etc. so that not only Trust Bank Ltd. but also all its stakeholder like suppliers, Clients, distributors can get advantage of the business.