Bank Guarantees
The Bank Guarantees sub-module enables you to track and manage all bank guarantees (BGs) issued in connection with your organization's contracts and projects. In the construction industry, bank guarantees are a common requirement for securing contracts, ensuring performance, and providing financial assurance to clients. JobNext provides a centralized register to monitor BG types, amounts, validity periods, and expiry dates.
Access Bank Guarantees from Finance > Bank Guarantees. The main screen displays a list of all registered bank guarantees with their current status and validity information.
Bank Guarantee Lifecycle
Types of Bank Guarantees
Construction projects typically require several types of bank guarantees at different stages of the project lifecycle:
| BG Type | Purpose | Typical Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) | Security deposit submitted with a tender bid to demonstrate serious intent | 1-5% of tender value |
| Performance Guarantee | Assurance that the contractor will fulfill contract obligations as per terms | 5-10% of contract value |
| Advance Payment Guarantee | Security against mobilization advance or other advance payments received | Equal to advance amount |
| Retention Money Guarantee | Replaces cash retention deducted from running bills to release working capital | 5-10% of certified work value |
| Defect Liability Guarantee | Covers the defect liability period after project completion | 2-5% of final contract value |
Registering a Bank Guarantee
To register a new bank guarantee in the system:
- Navigate to Finance > Bank Guarantees
- Click Add Bank Guarantee
- Fill in the required details as described in the fields table below
- Attach a scanned copy of the BG instrument if available
- Click Save to register the bank guarantee
Bank Guarantee Fields
| Field | Description | Required |
|---|---|---|
| BG Number | The unique reference number issued by the bank on the guarantee instrument | Yes |
| BG Type | The category of guarantee (EMD, Performance, Advance, Retention, Defect Liability) | Yes |
| Issuing Bank | The name of the bank that issued the guarantee | Yes |
| Job / Contract | The project or contract for which the BG is issued | Yes |
| Beneficiary | The customer or party in whose favor the guarantee is issued | Yes |
| BG Amount | The face value of the bank guarantee | Yes |
| Issue Date | The date on which the bank guarantee was issued | Yes |
| Expiry Date | The date on which the bank guarantee expires | Yes |
| Claim Period End | The last date by which a claim can be made against the guarantee (often extends beyond expiry) | No |
| Margin Amount | The margin money deposited with the bank for issuing the guarantee | No |
| Commission Rate | The bank's commission percentage charged for the guarantee | No |
Expiry Tracking and Alerts
JobNext monitors bank guarantee expiry dates and provides alerts to ensure that guarantees are renewed or released in a timely manner. Failing to renew a guarantee before it expires can have serious contractual consequences.
- Dashboard Indicators — Bank guarantees approaching expiry appear highlighted in the BG list view
- Advance Notifications — The system sends alerts when a guarantee is within the configurable advance notice period (e.g., 30 days before expiry)
- Expired BG Alerts — Guarantees that have passed their expiry date without renewal or release are flagged for immediate attention
An expired bank guarantee that has not been renewed or released can expose your organization to contract termination, encashment of the guarantee by the beneficiary, or loss of eligibility for future contract awards. Always track expiry dates proactively.
Renewal Process
When a bank guarantee needs to be extended beyond its original validity period:
- Identify the guarantee approaching expiry from the BG list
- Request a renewal or extension from the issuing bank
- Once the bank issues the renewed guarantee, update the record in JobNext
- Update the Expiry Date to the new validity date
- Record any additional commission or charges associated with the renewal
- Attach the renewed BG instrument document
BG Release
When a bank guarantee is no longer required (e.g., the contract is complete and the defect liability period has passed), it should be released:
- Obtain a release letter or no-claim certificate from the beneficiary
- Submit the original BG instrument to the bank for cancellation
- Update the BG status in JobNext to Released
- Record the release date and any margin money refunded by the bank
Best Practices
- Register BGs immediately — Enter bank guarantee details into JobNext as soon as the instrument is received from the bank
- Set adequate alert periods — Configure expiry alerts to provide enough lead time for renewal processing (at least 30-45 days)
- Track margin money — Record margin amounts to maintain visibility of cash locked up in BG margins
- Link BGs to jobs — Always associate bank guarantees with the correct job or contract for project-level financial reporting
- Follow up on releases — After project completion, actively pursue BG releases to free up bank limits and recover margin money