Advantages and Disadvantages of Bank Overdraft

A bank overdraft is a facility extended by a bank to corporates and other clients to withdraw funds from their account in excess of the balance. This facility is provided by the bank for a fee and/or interest is charged on the excess amount that is withdrawn for the length of the time. It is important to know the advantages and disadvantages of the bank overdraft facility in order to use it effectively.

An overdraft facility allows the facility holder to withdraw money from the account despite having no balance. There is a limit on the amount that can be overdrawn from the account. The overdraft limit is usually set by the bank basis the amount of working capital, creditworthiness of borrower and security offered by borrower.

Advantages of Bank Overdraft

Handles Timing Mismatch of Flow of Funds

A bank overdraft is usually the best for businesses with greater movement of cash flow in a given time frame.  An overdraft can help reset a skipped cycle of rotation of inflow and outflow of cash. In other words, if sales proceeds and purchases result in a flow of money in and out many times during a week/month; an overdraft facility allows managing cash flow gaps that might arise due to timing mismatch.

Helps in Keeping Good Track Record

If a check was made on the basis of some amount to be received, and if it is delayed, the check does not bounce due to inadequacy of funds.  Hence, overdraft facility allows for a better payment history.

Timely Payments

It also ensures timely payments and avoidance of late payments penalties as payments can be made even if there is a lack of sufficient balance in the account.

Less Paperwork

It requires less paperwork that would usually be required in long-term loans as overdraft facility is easy to avail.

Flexibility

Overdraft facility has the advantage of flexibility as one may take it at any time, for any amount (up to the limit allotted), and for even as less as one or two days.

Benefit of Less Interest Cost

The interest is calculated only on the amount of funds used. This allows for greater savings in the interest cost compared to a normal loan taken for a fixed time period. While in other loans, interest is required to be paid even if the money remains unused. In this case, the charging of interest starts with the amount over drawn and it stops instantly when it is paid off.

Disadvantages of Bank Overdraft

Higher Interest Rates

Overdraft facility comes at a cost. At times, the cost is usually higher than the other sources of borrowing.

Risk of Reduction in Limit

Overdraft facility is a temporary loan and undergoes regular revisit by the bank. Hence, it runs a risk of a decrease in the limit or withdrawal of the limit. Reduction in the withdrawal of limit may happen usually when company financials may represent poor performance; hence, the facility may be withdrawn especially when the company may require it the most.

Risk of Seizing

Bank overdraft facility may at times be secured against inventory or other collaterals like shares, life insurance policies etc. The company may run a risk of those assets being seized if it fails to meet payments.

Debtor’s Collection becomes Lethargic

At times, availability of overdraft facility may make the company less strict on the collection of debtors’ payment. In other words, a company may not be too much on their feet to collect payments from debtors, as immediate payment outflows can be managed by overdraft facility.

Conclusion:

Overdraft is a temporary facility obtained by the companies to meet their ultra-short term cash shortage/requirement. One needs to bear in mind that such facility comes with a high cost and should be used as a stop-gap management of funds or as an emergency activity rather than a routine funding activity. Higher dependence on overdraft for working capital financing indicates poor working capital management and a liquidity constraint faced by the company.  Only temporary working capital should be financed by bank overdraft. The permanent working capital should be financed by long-term financing.

Difference between overdraft and cash credit.

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