Create a bespoke document in minutes, or upload and review your own.
Get your first 2 documents free
Your data doesn't train Genie's AI
You keep IP ownership of your information
Bank Guarantee
I need a bank guarantee document that ensures payment obligations are met for a construction project, with a validity period of 12 months and a claim period of 3 months post-expiry. The guarantee should be irrevocable and unconditional, issued by a reputable bank in Singapore.
What is a Bank Guarantee?
A Bank Guarantee is a financial safety net where a bank promises to cover your obligations if you can't meet them. In Singapore, these guarantees help businesses secure contracts, bid on projects, or fulfill payment commitments without tying up their own cash reserves.
Under MAS guidelines, local banks issue these guarantees to protect beneficiaries against default or non-performance. They're especially common in construction projects, tender submissions, and international trade deals. Once issued, the guarantee becomes a legally binding commitment that the bank must honor when valid claims arise - making it a powerful tool for building trust in business relationships.
When should you use a Bank Guarantee?
Bank Guarantees prove essential when bidding on major construction projects or securing government contracts in Singapore. They give you a competitive edge by showing financial backing without freezing your capital. Local developers often need them to demonstrate project completion capability, while suppliers use them to secure large inventory purchases.
Consider using these guarantees when entering high-value contracts, especially if you're working with new business partners or public sector entities. They're particularly valuable for SMEs expanding operations, companies participating in public tenders, or businesses needing to provide security deposits for commercial leases or regulatory requirements under Singapore law.
What are the different types of Bank Guarantee?
- Performance Bank Guarantee: Ensures project completion and quality standards, commonly used in construction and service contracts
- Letter Of Credit And Standby Letter Of Credit: Supports international trade transactions and serves as backup payment security
- Banker's Guarantee For Individual: Tailored for personal obligations like rental deposits or education fees
- Bank Guarantee For Deposit: Replaces cash deposits for commercial leases or tender submissions
- Guarantee Letter: General-purpose guarantee covering various business commitments and financial obligations
Who should typically use a Bank Guarantee?
- Banks (Guarantors): Licensed financial institutions in Singapore that issue the guarantee and take on the financial risk, usually major banks like DBS, OCBC, or UOB
- Corporate Applicants: Companies requesting Bank Guarantees to secure contracts, participate in tenders, or fulfill regulatory requirements
- Individual Applicants: People seeking guarantees for personal commitments like rental deposits or education fees
- Beneficiaries: Organizations or individuals who receive the guarantee's protection, such as government agencies, property developers, or project owners
- Legal Advisors: Lawyers who review and negotiate guarantee terms to ensure MAS compliance and protect client interests
How do you write a Bank Guarantee?
- Basic Details: Gather applicant's company information, beneficiary details, and guarantee amount needed
- Purpose Documentation: Prepare underlying contract, tender documents, or project requirements that justify the guarantee
- Financial Records: Compile recent financial statements, bank statements, and credit history for bank assessment
- Collateral Information: List available assets or security deposits if required by the bank
- Validity Period: Determine exact start and end dates aligned with project timelines
- Draft Review: Use our platform to generate a legally-sound Bank Guarantee template, ensuring all MAS requirements are met
- Internal Approval: Get sign-off from authorized signatories before bank submission
What should be included in a Bank Guarantee?
- Parties' Details: Full legal names and addresses of the bank, applicant, and beneficiary
- Guarantee Amount: Specific sum in Singapore dollars or specified currency, written in both numbers and words
- Validity Period: Clear start and expiry dates, including any automatic extension clauses
- Trigger Events: Precise conditions that activate the bank's payment obligation
- Payment Terms: Timeline and method for honoring claims under the guarantee
- Governing Law: Express statement that Singapore law applies
- Claim Procedure: Step-by-step process for beneficiary to make valid demands
- Assignment Clause: Rules about transferring guarantee rights to other parties
What's the difference between a Bank Guarantee and a Guarantee Agreement?
While Bank Guarantees and Guarantee Agreements might seem similar, they serve distinctly different purposes in Singapore's legal landscape. A Bank Guarantee is issued by a financial institution and represents an independent obligation to pay, while a Guarantee Agreement is a direct promise between private parties to fulfill another's obligations.
- Payment Structure: Bank Guarantees require immediate payment upon valid demand, whereas Guarantee Agreements typically follow the primary debtor's default
- Issuing Authority: Only MAS-regulated banks can issue Bank Guarantees, but any capable party can enter a Guarantee Agreement
- Risk Profile: Bank Guarantees offer stronger security due to bank backing, while Guarantee Agreements depend on the guarantor's financial stability
- Enforcement: Bank Guarantees are more readily enforceable with fewer defenses available to the bank, compared to broader dispute options in Guarantee Agreements
Download our whitepaper on the future of AI in Legal
Genie’s Security Promise
Genie is the safest place to draft. Here’s how we prioritise your privacy and security.
Your documents are private:
We do not train on your data; Genie’s AI improves independently
All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation
Your documents are protected:
Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption
Our bank-grade security infrastructure undergoes regular external audits
We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure
Organizational security
You retain IP ownership of your documents
You have full control over your data and who gets to see it
Innovation in privacy:
Genie partnered with the Computational Privacy Department at Imperial College London
Together, we ran a £1 million research project on privacy and anonymity in legal contracts
Want to know more?
Visit our Trust Centre for more details and real-time security updates.
Read our Privacy Policy.