Guide
What is an interest-bearing account in Foreign Military Sales?
A purchaser, if authorized, may pay its and quarterly bills into a separate interest-bearing account instead of straight into the ; funds are then withdrawn from it for transfer into the . The account is held either at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or at a commercial bank, under agreements that include , and neither kind normally holds Foreign Military Financing funds.
What is an interest-bearing account in Foreign Military Sales?
In response to the and quarterly billing requirements, an international partner may also make payments (if authorized) to a separate interest-bearing account (IBA). is authorized to then withdraw funds from the IBA for transfer into the . The IBA may be either a Federal Reserve Bank () account or Commercial Banking Account (CBA) as described below.
Some countries (if approved) may establish an account with the of New York (FRBNY) for their deposits. An agreement between the purchaser’s defense organization, the international partner’s central bank, FRBNY, and identifies the terms, conditions, and mechanics of the account’s operation. Except as authorized by law and/or policy, accounts do not include program funds.
Some international partners may establish an account with a commercial bank for deposits. Commercial banking accounts do not include program funds. Two agreements are required:
1. An agreement between the international partner and the participating U.S. commercial bank
2. An agreement between the international partner and
These accounts operate in a very similar fashion to the New York interest-bearing accounts.
References
SAMM
- SAMM C9.11.1 — Trust Fund Accounts.
- SAMM C9.11.2 — Federal Reserve Bank New York Accounts.
- SAMM C9.11.3 — Commercial Banking Account.
Related
Foreign Military Sales (FMS)
A process, authorized by the Arms Export Control Act, through which eligible foreign governments and international organizations may purchase defense articles, services, and training from the United States Government.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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Initial Deposit
Funds that are required to cover outlays and/or deliveries that are anticipated to occur before the receipt of the first quarterly payment. These funds must accompany the accepted Letter of Offer and Acceptance.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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FMS — Foreign Military Sale
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Trust Fund
A type of account, designated by law as a “trust fund,” regardless of any other meaning of the term “trust fund.” A trust fund account is usually either a receipt, an expenditure, or a revolving fund account (trust revolving fund account).
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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DSCA — Defense Security Cooperation Agency
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Glossary entry →Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) →
DFAS-IN — Defense Finance and Accounting Service - Indianapolis
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA)
The legal instrument used by the USG to transfer itemized defense articles, defense services, and design and construction services to foreign partners.
When used under the authorities provided in the Arms Export Control Act for Foreign Military Sales, the LOA is a binding agreement signed by the USG and the foreign partner to transfer such articles and services.
When used under Building Partnership Capacity (BPC) authorities, the BPC LOA is not signed by the Benefitting Partner.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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LOA — Letter of Offer and Acceptance
SAMM Acronyms, as of 12 September 2026
Implementing Agency (IA)
The military department or defense agency responsible for the execution of military assistance programs. With respect to FMS, the military department or defense agency assigned responsibility by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency to prepare an LOA and to implement an FMS case. The implementing agency is responsible for the overall management of the actions that will result in delivery of the materials or services set forth in the LOA that was accepted by a foreign country or international organization.
SAMM Glossary, as of 12 September 2026
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