What is the difference between bank guarantee and LC?

A bank guarantee and a letter of credit are similar in many ways but they're two different things. Letters of credit ensure that a transaction proceeds as planned, while bank guarantees reduce the loss if the transaction doesn't go as planned.A letter of credit is an obligation taken on by a bank to make a payment once certain criteria are met. Once these terms are completed and confirmed, the bank will transfer the funds. This ensures the payment will be made as long as the services are performed.A bank guarantee, like a line of credit, guarantees a sum of money to a beneficiary. Unlike a line of credit, the sum is only paid if the opposing party does not fulfil the stipulated obligations under the contract. This can be used to essentially insure a buyer or seller from loss or damage due to non-performance by the other party in a contract.For example a letter of credit could be used in the delivery of goods or the completion of a service. The seller may request that the buyer obtain a letter of credit before the transaction occurs. The buyer would purchase this letter of credit from a bank and forward it to the seller's bank. This letter would substitute the bank's credit for that of its client, ensuring correct and timely payment.A bank guarantee might be used when a buyer obtains goods from a seller then runs into cash flow difficulties and can't pay the seller. The bank guarantee would pay an agreed-upon sum to the seller. Similarly, if the supplier was unable to provide the goods, the bank would then pay the purchaser the agreed-upon sum. Essentially, the bank guarantee acts as a safety measure for the opposing party in the transaction. These financial instruments are often used in trade financing when suppliers, or vendors, are purchasing and selling goods to and from overseas customers with whom they don't have established business relationships. The instruments are designed to reduce the risk taken by each party.

خطابات الضمان والاعتمادات المستندية هما من حيث المبدأ واحد ولكن من حيث الهدف مختلفتان فخطاب الضمان (الكفالة) يحصل عليها العميل من بنكه لتقديمها ضمان لطرف اخر اتفق معه على تقديم خدمة له (مثل الدخول في مناقصة) فيقدم خطاب الضمان اما لضمان عدم تراجعه عن المناقصة في حالة فوزه بها او لضمان عدم اخلاله بشروط المناقصة ويكون هنا البنك هو الضامن ويعطى الضمان للعميل مقابل شروط يضعها البنك .اما الاعتماد المستندي فهو [ نوع من الضمان ] يحصل عليه العميل من البنك (تعهد بالدفع للمصدر) عند استيراده سلعة من الخارج ويبعثه للمصدر ويقوم فرع البنك بدولة المصدر التاكد ان البضاعة شحنت حسب الاصول وتحوي جميع الوثائق المطلوبة كشهادة المنشأ وبوليصة الشحن والتأمين وعند وصول البضاعة للمستورد يقوم البنك بدفع المبلغ المذكور بالاعتماد      

Establish L/C to settl supplier invoice,by a customer,before materilas delivered,or just sign the sales contract.Suoolier get the money,may be before the materials delivered or after(Asper L/C terms and condition),and they get the suerty from the customer bank that,the money will be paid on Time.

Gurantee means,bank give the guarantee to Supplier that,if the customer wont pay the money,then bank will pay it.Its a guarantee after sales.