Depending on your role in the letter of credit transaction, the role of the applicant or the beneficiary of the letter of credit, in international transactions we distinguish the following: import (nostro) letter of credit that represents our contingent liability of effecting payment to your supplier, on your behalf, following the the fulfilment of conditions stipulated in the documentary letter of credit. An export (loro) letter of credit represents buyer's bank contingent liability of effecting a payment in your favor on behalf of your buyer.
In domestic business we open the nostro letter of credit by your in favor of your partner in the country, whereas the loro letter of credit is opened by another domestic bank, in your favour.
In terms of payment, we distinguish a letter of credit payable at sight, where the bank effects payment immediately upon the presentation of documents in line with the conditions of the letter of credit, and a deferred payment letter of credit, where the payment is effected within the contracted period specified in the letter of credit (usually 30, 60, 90 or 180 days from the date of the shipping document or another date).