Abstract
A BPO is an irrevocable undertaking given by an Obligor Bank acting on behalf of the buyer to a Recipient Bank acting on behalf of the seller to pay on satisfaction of certain specified conditions. There have been a Trade Service Utility(TSU), a Transaction Matching Application(TMA) and ISO 20022 TSMT messages that core electronic technical systems linked to the BPO. As a key usefulness of the BPO, it brings to market an alternative means of satisfying the risk mitigation, financing and information management needs of banks and businesses engaged in trade. That is, corporates can spread the risk among multiple Obligor Banks by requesting multiple BPOs for the same trade transaction not to exceed the value of the initial transaction. Since the BPO replaces the manual document checking process with the electronic matching of data, buyers and sellers will benefit from significantly increased accuracy and objectivity. By using BPO, buyers and sellers can become trusted counterparties by demonstrating reliability and giving sellers the assurance of being paid on time as per the payment terms and conditions agreed. When compared to L/C, the BPO requires submission of data only. This requires a change of practice of those accustomed to dealing with physical documentation. The beneficiary of a BPO is the Recipient Bank which is always the Seller's Bank. In the meantime, banks will need to agree between themselves that the URBPO 750 will be applied, modified or excluded. However, customers of banks will face low transactional costs due to a fully automated process and standardized data formats used in international trade documentation. There is no amendment and cancellation rules in the URBPO 750s, but only have Assignment of Proceeds rules. As a result, the BPO is likely to enable new business opportunities, lower costs, fast transaction process and strengthen key customer relationships.