UCP 600 Article 7: Examining Commercial Invoices Under the Issuing Bank Undertaking

Introduction

When a commercial invoice is presented under a documentary credit, the issuing bank's obligation under Article 7 is triggered if the presentation complies. The invoice must meet Article 18 requirements, the credit terms, and ISBP 745 Section C. The issuing bank examines the invoice under Article 14 and must honour if the presentation complies per Article 7(a). The commercial invoice is the anchor document against which all other documents are measured for consistency.

ICC trade-finance guidance and documentary credit publications provide context on invoice examination. The operative rules come from UCP 600 Articles 7, 14, 18, and ISBP 745 Section C.

Failure Mode Analysis

Failure Mode 1: Invoice amount exceeds credit amount

The commercial invoice total exceeds the credit amount. Article 18(b) prohibits this. The issuing bank must refuse the presentation per Article 16.

Failure Mode 2: Invoice issued by wrong party

The invoice is issued by a party other than the beneficiary, and the credit does not permit it. Article 18(a) requires issuance by the beneficiary unless the credit permits otherwise.

Failure Mode 3: Invoice description differs from credit

The invoice describes the goods differently from the credit. Article 14(d) prohibits data conflicts. ISBP 745 C2 requires conformity.

Failure Mode 4: Invoice in wrong currency

The invoice is denominated in a currency different from the credit currency. Article 18(d) requires the invoice to match the credit currency unless the credit states otherwise.

Deterministic Resolution Architecture

1. Confirm the invoice is issued by the beneficiary or by a party permitted by the credit per Article 18(a).
2. Verify the invoice amount does not exceed the credit amount per Article 18(b).
3. Confirm the invoice currency matches the credit currency per Article 18(d).
4. Verify the invoice description conforms to the credit description per ISBP 745 C2 and Article 14(d).
5. Confirm the invoice is presented on or before the expiry date per Article 6(e).
6. Verify no data conflicts between the invoice and other documents per Article 14(d).
7. Allow five banking days for examination per Article 14(a).
8. If the presentation complies, confirm the issuing bank must honour per Article 7(a).

Conclusion

The issuing bank's obligation under Article 7 extends to the commercial invoice, which must meet Article 18 requirements and the credit terms. The invoice is the anchor document; discrepancies in the invoice often cascade into findings that the entire presentation does not comply.

FAQ

Can the invoice amount be less than the credit amount?
Yes, provided it does not exceed the credit amount per Article 18(b). Partial presentations are permitted if the credit allows partial shipments.

Does the invoice currency have to match the credit currency?
Yes, Article 18(d) requires the invoice currency to match the credit currency unless the credit states otherwise.

Who must issue the commercial invoice?
Article 18(a) requires issuance by the beneficiary unless the credit permits another party.

What if the invoice description slightly differs from the credit?
Article 14(d) prohibits data conflicts. ISBP 745 C2 requires conformity. Even minor differences may be discrepancies.

Does the issuing bank have to honour if the invoice is missing?
No. Article 7(a) requires the stipulated documents to be presented. A missing invoice is a discrepancy.

Source Notes

• Canonical authority: UCP 600 Articles 7, 14, 18; ISBP 745 Section C.
• Live context: ICC Academy documentary-credit guidance and trade-finance commentary surfaced through Google News RSS. Context only.