1. A computer-implemented method of carrying out an electronic transaction that includes a payment via a secure electronic draft, comprising the steps of: establishing a secure computer site that includes a representation of the draft, the site being controlled by a financial service provider and accessible only to authenticated parties to the transaction; creating a first online letter of credit linked to a drawer of the draft and including predetermined terms, satisfaction of the terms being a precondition to the financial service provider extending credit to the drawer; authenticating each party to the draft seeking access the secure computer site to a satisfaction of the financial service provider, and releasing payment on the draft to a drawee of the draft, an optional portion of the released payment originating from the credit extended to the drawer.