A credit instrument is a term used in the banking and finance world to describe any item agreed upon that can be used as currency. Banks issue credit instruments, in the form of credit cards. Customers, in turn, use these credit instruments to make purchases 'on credit' and pay the amount 'borrowed' back to the bank either at the end of the month, quarter, or whatever term has been agreed upon.
Any item can serve as a credit instrument, so long as both parties (the borrower and the lender) have agreed on the use of that instrument. The instrument is basically a promise by the debtor that he/she will pay back the debtor.
A simpler example of a credit instrument is the cheque. When one person gives another a cheque, he/she is basically saying that this piece of paper proves I owe you a certain amount of cash, and if you take it the bank, they will gladly pay you on my behalf. Even simpler than the cheque is the promissory note, which is also very similar in nature.
Credit instruments are ever popular due to their convenience by not having you carry around piles of cash everywhere you go.
A Credit Instrument is basically an instrument which as a replacement to money. Almost all businesses and even individuals make use of credit instruments in one way or another.
Following are the different types of credit instruments:
Checks : The value of check is actually underwritten by funds that are in the bank account of the check signatory.
Credit Card: Credit card has become one of the most commonly used credit instruments. A credit card creates a contract between the buyer and the seller. The seller extends credit to the buyer such that the company issuing the card will cover the amount of purchase.
Promissory note: The debtors receive funds from the lenders such that the note will be repaid at a future point in time. There is normally a specific date for repayment or can also be open ended.
A credit instrument is nothing but a payment system established in the business, recognized by the country's legal and financial institutions. Success and implementation of said instrument largely depend upon the active support of the banks. Out of the several existing credit instruments, the personal check system and the documentary credit systems are widely being utilized. A promissory note or written evidence of a debtor's obligation is also considered as the credit instrument.
The personal check system ensures a payment order to be paid by the bank upon production of the check issued to some organization or individual against the bank's credit. Maker, drawer, bank, payee, bearer, etc. constituent the organizing machinery of the check credit instrument which is further classified as the negotiable instrument (does not mean, it can favor anyone!). Based upon the operating and payment conditions, there exist different kind of checks, such as the cashier's check (hard to get), certified check, electronic check (may give easy money), QChex, etc.
The documentary credit system employs primarily the Letter of Credit (LC) and Back-to-Back Letter of Credit as its main constituent parts. These credit operations require production of some pre-defined documents, such as Way Bills, Bills of Lading, Certificate of origin, Insurance papers, Customs forms, etc. for clearing the payment. Purchase and payment services of the domestic and international businesses use the documentary credit system indiscriminately.
A credit instruments is a term used in the banking and finance world to describe any item agreed that can be used as currency.Banks issue credit instruments in the form of credit cards.Customers in turn use these credit instruments to make purchase on credit and pay the amount borrowed back either at the end of the month quarter or what ever term has agreed, upon.
The main in the street ordinarily thinks that paper money and metallic coins are the main media of exchange. The fact is that credit is playing a dominant role in the modern business by transferring money to the borrowers and then subsequently back to the lenders. There are numerous ways by which the credit can be extended. Some of them involve the use of credit instruments and in certain cases the credit is extended without any written contract. The main instruments of credit are pay roll credit, book credit and written instruments.
Pay roll credit is also called oral agreement. In advanced and developing countries of the world, some credit is extended to individuals, friends, and businesses associates without keeping any record or documents. The agreement to pay back the money is purely oral. If a borrower refuses to pay the money the creditor cannot prove the existence of any obligation. Oral agreements are mostly confined to small loans. Open book account merely consists of entries on the books of business concerns. These entries appear as an account receivable on the books of lender and as an account payable on the books of the borrower. The main advantage claimed for he book account is that it is very simple and speedy way of carrying on the business transactions.
