| OVER 250 BANKS and FINANCE COMPANIES now help small and mid-size exporters finance sales with working capital and receivables support, plus medium-term (3-5-year) credit. Here are some that offer one or the other, or both. WORKING CAPITAL, RECEIVABLES (Short-Term) Short-term export finance (up to one year) is typically offered by banks on a "relationship" basis (to clients), but a group of specialist finance companies work on a "transaction" (one time only) basis. Many lenders employ working capital guarantees offered by Ex-Im Bank and the Small Business Administration. World Trade Finance -- Los Angeles -- Ex-banker Bernd Hermann started '89, focus: pre-shipment purchases, fabrication, receivables -- Ex-Im, SBA -- 818-556-8588, ContactUS@World-Trade-Finance.com. CFS International Inc. -- Irvine, CA -- Export finance lender, credit insurance broker, focuses on small, mid-size firms, dates to 1990 -- Lends for foreign receivables, with Ex-Im insurance -- 949-336-8500, ext. 205. Gateway Trade Finance -- Spokane, WA -- Specialist in working capital, imports-exports, 1995 start -- Focus on purchase orders, pre-sold finished goods -- Mark Landes: mlandes@gatwaytradefinance.com, 800-314-3307. King Trade Capital -- Dallas -- Import-export, focuses on purchase orders, helps clients acquire pre-sold goods, often when orders are large -- Edward King: 214-368-5100, info@kingtradecapital.com. Bank of America -- HQ: Charlotte, NC -- Global mega-bank, a top Ex-Im lender -- Nationwide network offers working capital service -- E-contact at corp.bankofamerica.com/business/ci/exporter. JPMorgan Chase -- HQ: NY -- Global mega-bank, a leading Ex-Im lender -- Dedicated working capital unit, delivers thru units in 17 states -- E-contact at: chase.com/online/commercial-bank/solutions-internationalbanking. Silicon Valley Bank -- HQ: Santa Clara, CA -- Large multi-state bank (26 U,S. offices), a top Ex-Im program lender -- Focus on high-tech, life sciences sectors -- Contact (Ex-Im work cap): 800-774-7390 |
EQUIPMENT DEALS (Medium-Term) A few banks and a dozen finance companies offer medium-term loans to foreign buyers on a transaction basis, mostly with Ex-Im guarantees and insurance. American Trade Finance Co. -- Amston, CT -- Int'l group, into U.S. '99 -- Active in emerging markets, Ex-Im MT, ST -- Steve Greene: 860-228-3453, steve@americantradefinance.com. London Forfaiting -- New York -- Global trade specialist, part of FIMBank (Malta) -- Focus on emerging markets, forfait-factoring, Ex-Im -- 212-759-1919, lfa@forfaiting.com. M&T Bank -- Buffalo, NY -- Regional lender (7 states NE, DC), very active in trade, Ex-Im -- MT: relationship, transaction basis -- Sue Ann Kichline: 410-244-4288, skichline@mtb.com. NorthStar Trade Finance -- Houston -- Unit of Canada group, owned by major banks, U.S. start '05 -- Active Ex-Im -- 866-202-2061, info@northstartradefinance.com. New Continent Finance -- Miami -- Export specialist, '03 launch, active Ex-Im, L. America -- Founder Gustavo Rosas ex-Ex-Im, FCIA -- 305-461-2345, grosas@ncsglobal.com. PNC Bank -- Pittsburgh -- Large, 15 states, long trade history -- A top Ex-Im MT, ST player, MT: relationships-transactions -- Alan Andrews: 412-768-7662, alan.andrews@pnc.com. UPS Capital -- Atlanta, Hartford -- Finance unit of big logistics group -- Very active Ex-Im MT, ST, MT deals often combined with logistics -- James Fortsch: jfortsch@ups.com. |