Meaning
Financial arrangement where the delivery of local currency occurs only upon the verified receipt of the corresponding foreign currency payment. Banks use payment based settlement to eliminate the risk that one party will fail to deliver their part of the exchange. This method is common in large-scale corporate investments where the amounts are too high for uncollateralized credit.
It ensures that the transaction is completed simultaneously for both sides.
Receipt Trigger
Incoming wire transfers must be confirmed by the receiving bank’s treasury system. Under payment based settlement, the local currency is held in a suspense account until the foreign funds arrive. Once the confirmation is received, the funds are released to the borrower’s operational account.
Settlement Risk
Default by the counterparty is the primary danger in international currency trades. Payment based settlement protects the local company from losing its money if the foreign lender goes bankrupt mid-transfer. This protection is essential for maintaining the stability of the national payment system.
Operational Sequence
Specific instructions must be included in the wire transfer to link the two sides of the trade. A payment based settlement requires the use of a clearing house that can monitor both currencies at the same time. This process is more expensive than standard transfers but provides much higher security.