A GROUP OF BANKS AND FINANCE COMPANIES is now available to help small and mid-size exporters finance their exports with both short-term working capital and medium-term (3-5-year) loans. Here are some that provide one or the other, or both. 

WORKING CAPITAL, RECEIVABLES FINANCE

BANKS – Several large institutions with a nationwide presence have dedicated units to offer short-term support in cooperation with Ex-Im Bank programs.

JPMorgan Chase – global mega-bank (New York HQ), has branches in 17 states, payments staff in 40, a presence in 39 countries. It’s a top ExIm lender in several products. Contact: Astar Saleh, Executive Director-Trade Services, 212-552-3451, astar.saleh@jpmorgan.com.

Silicon Valley Bank – multi-state lender (HQ: Santa Clara, CA), has focus on high tech, life sciences sectors, 27 U.S. offices, units in key high-tech countries, makes trade finance a top priority. Contact: Michael Selfridge, 650-320-1113, MSelfridge@svb.com.

Bank of America – mega-bank (Charlotte, NC, HQ), has nationwide branches, units in 175 countries. Global Treasury Services division a leader in trade finance, working capital. Contact: Pauline Kontos, SVP, 312-904-5148, pauline.kontos@bankofamerica.com.

FINANCE COMPANIES – Several specialty trade finance companies focus on short-term support for purchase order-based sales, on a transaction basis.

World Trade Finance – Los Angeles, pioneer in transaction-based exports, focuses on California, small, mid-size clients nationwide, Ex-Im, SBA programs for single deals, credit lines. Contact: President Bernd Hermann, 818-550-0788, bernd@world-trade-finance.com.

King Trade Capital – Dallas, offers export-import working capital, focus on purchase orders, helping clients acquire pre-sold goods, often when orders are unusually large. Contact: Edward King, president, 214-368-5100, info@kingtradecapital.com

Gateway Trade Finance – Spokane, WA, specializes in short-term working capital in exports-imports, mostly in purchase orders, pre-sold finished goods. Customers are growth companies, start-up firms. Contact: 800-314-3307.

EQUIPMENT DEALS

BANKS - A few banks are active in medium-term equipment export deals on a transaction basis, working with Ex-Im Bank guarantee and insurance programs. Their customers for this service are mostly smaller and mid-size firms nationwide.

PNC Bank – large multi-state lender (Pittsburgh HQ), has branches in 13 states and DC, active in small business, a top Ex-Im Bank lender, nationwide medium-term deals business. Contact: Alan Andrews, VP, alan.andrews@pnc.com.

M&T Bank – a multi-state lender (Buffalo HQ, trade finance in Baltimore), has branches in mid-Atlantic, works with Ex-Im, SBA programs, nationwide equipment deals business. Contact: David Cooke, VP, dcooke@mtb.com

FINANCE COMPANIES – At least a dozen finance companies are active in medium-term deals, working on a transaction basis. A few are diverse groups with multiple services, most are specialty trade finance providers.

NorthStar Trade Finance – Montgomery (Houston), TX, subsidiary of Canadian group owned by major banks, opened U.S. 2005, focuses on mid-size, smaller exporters, Ex-Im programs. Contact: 936-689-2222, info@northstartradefinance.com.

UPS Capital – Atlanta and Hartford (CT), finance unit of giant logistics company, is very active in Ex-Im medium-term deals, has nationwide office network, does short-term finance. Contact: James Fortsch, SVP, 860-687-2667, jfortsch@ups.com.

Vinmar Trade Finance – Houston, specialty group (exports-imports), part of global petrochemicals trader Vinmar Group, uses Ex-Im short, medium-term programs. Contact: Tom Wells, 281-618-1380, wells@vinmar.com.