For Sierra-Leone, when an exporter has concluded a commercial export contract with a Sierra-Leonean importer and the two parties do not know each other, the irrevocable and confirmed letter of credit is the most appropriate instrument to mitigate the risks.
The Sierra-Leonean importer will ask the Sierra-Leonean bank to issue a letter of credit for the benefit of the exporter who will have previously named the name of the notifying and confirming bank to be accepted by the exporter.
For Sierra-Leone, the exporter must choose a confirming bank that has in its network of correspondents the Sierra-Leonean bank that is proposed by the importer but also the one that has an acceptable credit rating so that there is no default of payment from the confirming bank.
A letter of credit issued in Sierra-Leone is usually confirmed by a big number of banks which are prepared to take the risks of Sierra-Leonean banks and make sure the beneficiary of the LC or exporter obtain his payment.
LIST OF SIERRA-LEONEAN BANKS ISSUING LETTERS OF CREDIT AND WHICH ARE ACCEPTED BY THE BANKS OF EXPORTERS
Sierra Leone Commercial Bank
Rokel Commercial Bank
Segbwema Community Bank
National Development Bank Limited
First International Bank of Sierra Leone
CONFIRMING BANKS FOR LETTER OF CREDIT ISSUED THROUGH SIERRA-LEONEAN BANKS
Banks which are confirm the letters of credit issued in Sierra-Leone by Sierra-Leonean banks are: (please contact us to obtain the list or to be listed as confirming bank).
SIERRA-LEONE: CONFIRMATION FEE FOR LETTER OF CREDIT FROM A SIERRA-LEONEAN BANK
Confirmation charges and fees for letters of credit issued through Sierra-Leonean banks can be obtained on demand by emailing: info@tradefinance.africa.
TRADEFINANCE.AFRICA COUNTRIES OF EXPERTISE