This is the value, as at the relevant date, of direct credit substitutes.     A direct credit substitute is any irrevocable off-balance sheet obligation that carries the same credit risk as a direct extension of credit, such as an undertaking to make a payment to a third party in the event that a counterparty fails to meet a financial obligation, or an undertaking to a counterparty to acquire a potential claim on another party in the event of default by that party (i.e. the risk of loss depends on the creditworthiness of the counterparty or the party on which a potential claim is acquired). 

Include:
- potential credit exposures arising from the issue of guarantees and credit derivatives (credit derivatives where protection is sold);
- confirmation of letters of credit;
- issue of standby letters of credit serving as financial guarantees for loans, securities and any other financial liabilities; and
- bills endorsed under bill endorsement lines (but are not accepted by, or have the prior endorsement of, an ADI).