Cash Credit

What is Cash Credit?

Cash credit is a facility to withdraw money from a current bank account without having a credit balance but is limited to the extent of the borrowing limit, which the commercial bank fixes. The interest in this facility is not charged on the borrowing limit, which the bank gives but on the daily closing balance. We are explaining the calculation of interest in the latter part of this article using an example.

CC is a very common facility by banks. It is one of the essential short-term sources of finance for a business. The availability is also not very difficult.

Cash Credit

Important Features / Rules of Cash Credit Facility

Borrowing Limit based on Drawing Power

The borrowing limit in the cash credit facility is a limit on the maximum amount of borrowing specified by the bank. Till this limit is not exhausted, the borrower can withdraw and deposit funds any no. of times. The bank determines the borrowing limit based on the drawing power of the borrower. Banks evaluate drawing power by analyzing book debts, inventories, creditors, etc. For detailed knowledge about what drawing power is and how banks calculate cash credit limits? You can read our detailed post on Drawing Power.

Interest on Daily Closing Balance

This is one unique feature of a CC Account. Unlike other types of debt financing products of banks like loans, the interest here is charged on the daily closing balance of the cash credit current account and not on the sanctioned amount. It is an incredible motivation for the borrower to collect money from the debtors as soon as possible and deposit it in the current account. Depositing money back to this account will save the entrepreneur a lot on interest costs. It is as good as investing the surplus funds instantaneously at the interest rate, which he pays on the cash credit limit. We have given a detailed explanation of interest calculation with the example later in the post.

Minimum Commitment Charge

Typically, a bank would levy charges in the situation when the borrower is not using the cash credit account. It’s undeniable from the bank’s point of view as it is blocking some amount of its ‘float’ for the borrower.

For example, in a 1 million cash credit limit, 0.5 million may be the average monthly minimum usage level. If the borrower uses the limit below that, say, 0.35 million, the bank will levy some charges on the unutilized portion, i.e., 0.15 million (.5 – .35). The charges may range between 0.5% to 2% depending on the policy of the bank/financial institution. For an illustration, if the charges are 1%, it would be 1% of 0.15 million = 0.0015 million ~ $1,500.

Security

A cash credit facility is extended against security. Securities may be in the form of stock, debtors, etc., as primary security and fixed assets and other immovable properties, etc., as collateral security.

Validity of the Credit Period

The limit allowed is valid for one year, and then the drawing power will be re-evaluated. One year is just an example, whereas the evaluation may happen every quarter in some cases. This would vary from case to case and also depends on the policies of the various institutions.

Cash Credit Limit and Prepayment Charges

A lot of loan defaults happen globally. Hence, banks have created stringent rules for providing cash credit facilities to a company. After studying a company’s books of accounts and income-tax filings of the promoters, a bank will decide on the amount to sanction. It may range anywhere between 50%-75% of the collateral offered as security. This percentage may change based on the company’s books of accounts and the amount needed. A bank uses its infrastructure in terms of the time and energy of its employees, software, business visits, etc., to evaluate a limit. Therefore it expects the borrower to utilize the facility for a minimum period, say it is one year. If a borrower for any reason decides to close this facility before that, the bank may levy some prepayment charges.

Accounting Treatment

Cash credit is shown in current liabilities under the sub-head “Short Term Loans” in the balance sheet for accounting purposes. The bank providing the cash credit facility opens a current account in the company’s name. Journal and ledger entries are similar to those made for transactions in other bank accounts. But there is a significant difference between the cash credit account and other bank accounts. A cash credit account will always have a credit balance – denoted as “Cr.” balance. Whereas other regular bank accounts always have a debit balance- denoted as “Dr.” balance.

Example of How Cash Credit Interest is Calculated?

XYZ Pvt.Ltd is a furniture manufacturing company. The manufacturing process is lengthy, involving both machinery and a manual workforce. It takes about 25-30 days time period for a product’s manufacturing process to start until it reaches the showrooms for sales. Also, they have to maintain a significant inventory of raw materials for finished goods. Because of the long turnaround time, they feel the requirement for additional working capital to increase production and sales.

They approach ABC Bank to extend them cash credit to the tune of $1 million to meet their short-term financing needs. The bank evaluates the drawing power of the company by studying its detailed income and expenditure statements, balance sheets, and income-tax filings for the last 3-4 years.

Interest Calculation on CC Account

For example, assume the following simple transaction from the CC account of XYZ Pvt Ltd, whose interest rate is 12%, and borrowing / sanctioned limit is 1,000,000.

Date Particulars Withdrawal Deposit Outstanding Balance
01-03-20 Issued Checks 400,000.00   (400,000.00)
11-03-20 Issued a Checks        500,000.00   (900,000.00)
21-03-20 Deposited Checks      300,000.00 (600,000.00)
31-03-20 Closing Balance     (600,000.00)
  Total        900,000.00    300,000.00  

Now we see that the first outstanding balance is -400,000. As per the dates mentioned, the borrower used this amount of money into his business for 10 days and, similarly, -900,000 for 10 days and -600,000 for 11 days.

Average Outstanding Balance for this account for March having 31 days will be calculated as follows:

= (-400000*10 + -900000*10 + -600000*11) / 31 = 632,258.06

Therefore, interest for this month will be as follows:

Average Outstanding Balance * Interest Rate * No. of Days in the Month / No. of Days in the Year

=632,258.06*12%*31/365 = 6443.84

Alternatively, it can also be calculated after completing each day with the same formula. Just need to replace days of the month with the number of days a particular balance is used for.

-400000*12%*10/365 = 1315.08

-900000*12%*10/365 = 2958.90

-600000*12%*11/365 = 2169.86

Total = 1315.08 + 2958.90 + 2169.86 = 6443.84

The answer will be the same. The concept is to calculate interest on the daily closing balance. You can also look at it following manner for a perfect understanding. We have taken fewer transactions for the sake of simplification.

Cash Credit (CC) Interest Calculation on Daily Closing Balance

Benefits of Cash Credit

The most important benefit of cash credit is its flexibility of deposits and withdrawals. Due to this, a borrower can save a lot of interest costs by depositing the extra cash available to him. It also keeps the borrower motivated towards collection from debtors, which will expedite the cash cycle and bring a disciplinary effect on the debtors and the borrower himself.

Disadvantages of Cash Credit

The primary disadvantage is that the securities required should be adequate, and the adequacy is evaluated time and again, which increases administrative work for the business.

Read more about the Advantages and Disadvantages of Cash Credit.

Quiz on Cash Credit

Let’s take a quick test on the topic you have read here.


Sanjay Borad

Sanjay Bulaki Borad

MBA-Finance, CMA, CS, Insolvency Professional, B'Com

Sanjay Borad, Founder of eFinanceManagement, is a Management Consultant with 7 years of MNC experience and 11 years in Consultancy. He caters to clients with turnovers from 200 Million to 12,000 Million, including listed entities, and has vast industry experience in over 20 sectors. Additionally, he serves as a visiting faculty for Finance and Costing in MBA Colleges and CA, CMA Coaching Classes.

11 thoughts on “Cash Credit”

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  3. Best explanation so far.
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