Promissory Note

　　本票（Promissory Note）是一项书面的无条件的支付承诺，由一个人作成，并交给另一人，经制票人签名承诺，即期或定期或在可以确定的将来时间，支付一定数目的金钱给一个特定的人或其指定人或来人。

　　我国《票据法》对本票的定义，指的是银行本票，指出票人签发的，承诺自己在见票时无条件支付确定金额给收款人或者持票人的票据。

　　国外票据法，允许企业和个人签发本票，称为一般本票。但在国际贸易中使用的本票，均为银行本票。银行本票都是即期的。一般本票可以是即期的或远期的。

　　而狭义的外汇中的本票仅指银行本票，不包括商业本票，个人本票。

　　本票的出票人必须具有支付本票金额的可靠资金来源，并保证支付。

A written, dated and signed two-party instrument containing an unconditional promise by the maker to pay a definite sum of money to a payee on demand or at a specified future date.

The only difference between a promissory note and a bill of exchange is that the maker of a note pays the payee personally, rather than ordering a third party to do so.

When a bank is the maker promising to repay money it has received plus interest, the promissory note is called a certificate of deposit (CD).