What is a bank guarantee?
A bank guarantee is an independent commitment of the bank to pay to the guarantee beneficiary (eligible entity) the amount indicated in the guarantee (guarantee amount) if the guarantee issuer, upon whose instructions the guarantee was issued, failed to meet its obligation.
Payment to the guarantee beneficiary is made directly by the guarantor bank or via another bank, after the beneficiary has met specific payment conditions, which may be ascertained with defined documents in the guarantee agreement, such as, for instance, invoices or consignments.
It is an effective instrument increasing transaction security and mitigating the risk of counterparty default. When the guarantee comes into force, it becomes a binding instrument irrespective of the validity of the main legal relationship (e.g. trade contract) between the principal and the beneficiary.
Find out how a guarantee works!
Is bank guarantee perfect for your business?
If you are in trading or service business, operating in Poland and abroad, often establish new trade contacts and want to improve your credibility towards counterparties, then a bank guarantee is just the solution for you. The guarantee will be an essential instrument to support your business - issuing a guarantee, you will increase the credibility of your company. Being a beneficiary of a guarantee, you will minimise the risk of counterparty default.
What guarantees does the Bank offer?
We offer a full range of guarantee products, among them especially the following types of guarantees:
- Excise guarantee - submitted as excise security to guarantee payment of one or more tax liabilities and fuel surcharges; it may replace a cash deposit or surety.
- Customs guarantee - secures the payment of customs duties, taxes or other payments to the State treasury represented by a competent authority; it may replace a cash deposit or surety.
- Performance guarantee - secures the performance of an agreement, claims under a technical guarantee and warranty, payment of contractual penalties in the case of default by the principal against contractual obligations; it may replace a guarantee deposit.
- Lottery guarantee - ensures the payment or surrender of prizes in a lottery/promotion action/game organised by the principal.
- Tender guarantee - replaces a bid bond guarantee and is payable when the Bank's customers, after winning the tender, fails to sign the contract or defaults against other obligations, e.g. connected with the deadline for the performance of a specific job.
- Guarantee of punctual loan/credit payment - secures a full repayment of credit or loan.
- Punctual payment guarantee - is an obligation of the Bank to pay the amount should the principal fail to pay for the goods purchased or services performed in keeping with the trade agreement signed.
- Rent payment guarantee - secures a payment of rent.
- Lease payments guarantee - secures a payment of part or all of lease instalments in the case of lessee default.
- Advance return guarantee - secures a return by the principal of an advance (advances) received earlier from the beneficiary should the principal default against the agreement under which the advance was paid and refused to return the advance.
Guarantees may be granted individually to secure one specific transaction or in the form of a line, within a specified limit.
The line for guarantees means one credit decision, one agreement, one collateral for several products. The line is renewable and is granted in PLN for a period of up to 12 months. It enables efficient securing and financing of your liabilities (current and future), improvement of your company's liquidity and credibility as well as cutting the time from your guarantee order to its issuance by the Bank.
Upon your instructions, Bank Millennium S.A. may also issue a guarantee promise, which constitutes a commitment of the Bank to grant a guarantee after you have met the conditions agreed with the Bank.