CHAPTER 5. Collection of Documentary Drafts [4501. - 4504.]

Cal. Commercial Code - COM 5.

in effect

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 4501. Section 4501.

A bank that takes a documentary draft for collection shall present or send the draft and accompanying documents for presentment and, upon learning that the draft has not been paid or accepted in due course, shall seasonably notify its customer of the fact even though it may have discounted or bought the draft or extended credit available for withdrawal as of right.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 4502. Section 4502.

If a draft or the relevant instructions require presentment “on arrival,” “when goods arrive” or the like, the collecting bank need not present until in its judgment a reasonable time for arrival of the goods has expired. Refusal to pay or accept because the goods have not arrived is not dishonor; the bank shall notify its transferor of the refusal but need not present the draft again until it is instructed to do so or learns of the arrival of the goods.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 4503. Section 4503.

Unless otherwise instructed and except as provided in Division 5 (commencing with Section 5101), a bank presenting a documentary draft: (a) Shall deliver the documents to the drawee on acceptance of the draft if it is payable more than three days after presentment; otherwise, only on payment. (b) Upon dishonor, either in the case of presentment for acceptance or presentment for payment, may seek and follow instructions from any referee in case of need designated in the draft or, if the presenting bank does not choose to utilize the referee’s services, it shall use diligence and good faith to ascertain the reason for dishonor, shall notify its transferor of the dishonor and of the results of its effort to ascertain the reasons therefor, and shall request instructions. However, the presenting bank is under no obligation with respect to goods represented by the documents except to follow any reasonable instructions seasonably received; it has a right to reimbursement for any expense incurred in following instructions and to prepayment of or indemnity for those expenses.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 4504. Section 4504.

(a) A presenting bank that, following the dishonor of a documentary draft, has seasonably requested instructions but does not receive them within a reasonable time may store, sell, or otherwise deal with the goods in any reasonable manner. (b) For its reasonable expenses incurred by action under subdivision (a), the presenting bank has a lien upon the goods or their proceeds, which may be foreclosed in the same manner as an unpaid seller’s lien.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026