What is a banker acceptance?

A banker’s acceptance is a financial instrument commonly used in international trade, serving as a time draft that is guaranteed by a bank. When a seller in one country wants to pay a supplier in another country, they might use a banker’s acceptance to ensure that the payment will be made at a future date, thus facilitating the transaction.

This instrument acts as a promise from the bank to pay the seller’s bank on behalf of the buyer in a specified time frame, essentially turning the draft into a guaranteed, liquid asset that can be sold or used in further transactions. Because it is backed by the creditworthiness of the bank, it typically carries a lower risk of default compared to other types of drafts or bills. This guarantee allows traders to transact with greater confidence and provides a valuable tool for managing cash flow in international trade.

Other choices do not align with the definition of a banker’s acceptance. A type of stock investment does not involve the bank’s guarantee in trading goods, a long-term bond does not pertain to the immediate, transactional nature of payments, and a secure investment in government bonds does not relate to the facilitating role of banker’s acceptances in international transactions.