The Bank Comfort Letter Explained: What Real Sellers Actually Need

What a BCL is

A Bank Comfort Letter is a statement from the buyer's bank confirming the buyer is a customer, has the financial capacity to perform, and has the ability to issue a payment instrument of the relevant size. It is not a payment guarantee. It is a creditworthiness signal.

What a BCL is not

• It is not a Letter of Credit
• It is not a guarantee of payment
• It is not a commitment that the bank will issue the L/C — it is a statement that the bank is willing in principle to do so
• It does not authorize anyone to draw funds from the buyer's account

Why sellers ask for it

Real sellers receive thousands of inquiries from non-serious buyers. Issuing a Proof of Product (POP) packet is expensive and exposes refinery information. The BCL filters out browsers from real buyers — it is the cost-of-entry to receive the POP.

What a real BCL looks like

• Issued on bank letterhead with a verifiable signatory
• Names the buyer's company and the contemplated transaction value
• Confirms the bank's relationship with the buyer
• Often references SWIFT BIC and includes a verification contact

What a fake BCL looks like

• Issued on Word document templates
• Signatures pasted as bitmaps
• Bank name does not match SWIFT directories
• Verification phone number rings to a personal mobile

Buyer protections

Some banks charge for issuing a BCL (typically a few hundred dollars). Some restrict the number of BCLs issued per quarter. Plan ahead — you cannot get a BCL on 24-hour notice from most retail banks.

What to refuse

• Sellers asking for "RWA" (Ready Willing and Able) language drafted on bank letterhead. RWA messages have specific implications under SWIFT MT799 and most banks will not issue them casually.
• Sellers asking for an "operative" instrument before SPA — this is a sign of fraud or misunderstanding.