We interviewed Geoff Brady, Head of Global Trade & Supply Chain Finance (GTS) at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. We talked about the physical and financial aspects of the supply chain management, about the importance of Blockchain Consortia in the trade finance space and the BAML’s agenda for the rest of the year.
Category: Business Loans
Turning SME credit scoring on its head – the Banking Circle approach to financial inclusion (S1 E25)
TFG spoke to Mishal Ruparel, General Manager at Banking Circle, about the new applications of technology in banking to help better serve the underbanked SMEs. Using AI-driven credit scoring and new approaches to analyse credit card transaction data, Banking Circle’s proposition is game-changing the world of SME finance.
Freight Forwarder Flexport Launches Trade Finance Solution
Flexport’s unique visibility into client shipments down to the SKU level through its digital platform provides them with a unique perspective on risk relative to banks offering financing. This insight into the client’s supply chain and business health allows them to provide flexible and customized terms. This degree of customization is ideal for clients but… Continue reading Freight Forwarder Flexport Launches Trade Finance Solution
UK Challenger Bank Wyelands Raises Questions over ties with GFG Alliance
Reports find that there are extensive ties between british billionaire Sanjeev Gupta’s acquired bank, Wyelands and his family’s wider business empire, the GFG Alliance. This strong link is raising questions over how the bank is appropriating savers’ deposits.
Mighty OakNorths from little acorns grow
Since its inception in 2015, OakNorth has gone from strength to strength. Indeed, last year the British challenger bank reported a 220% increase in profits from the previous year. So what is the story behind OakNorth and why is it growing so quickly?
How is the UAE diversifying its economy to attract investment?
To oil or not to oil? How is the UAE diversifying its economy to attract investment? As oversupply concerns curtail the global oil price’s trudge back upwards following its flirtation with the underbelly of the $50 mark late last year, it is easy to imagine an oil-reliant United Arab Emirates (UAE) quivering at the thought… Continue reading How is the UAE diversifying its economy to attract investment?
Credit Lines – What are they and how can they help businesses?
[box] Cash is king, particularly for small businesses. However, maintaining a healthy cashflow is often tricky, and complications around late payments, irregular orders and unplanned costs to the businesses can often lead to working capital going awry. [/box] Credit lines, or, lines of credit can often be used as a stop-gap solution to help ease… Continue reading Credit Lines – What are they and how can they help businesses?
Alternative Finance Trends: 2018 in Review | Trade Finance Global
[box] Europe’s alternative finance market has exploded over the last 5 years, now worth an estimated €7.7bn according to the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance. The UK alone has grown by over 43% in the last year to £4.6bn, with receivables and invoice finance accounting for around 10-20% of this. [/box] So what’s happened in… Continue reading Alternative Finance Trends: 2018 in Review | Trade Finance Global
FCI Interview: Randy Sim at IFS Capital on Commercial Finance, Singapore
[box] Singapore is home to more than 218,000 Small-Medium Enterprises (“SMEs”), defined domestically as firms with annual sales of less than S$100 million or less than 200 employees. These firms employ around 65% of the workforce and contribute about half of the country’s gross value added by enterprises. On average, an SME employs around 10… Continue reading FCI Interview: Randy Sim at IFS Capital on Commercial Finance, Singapore
Interview: Alan Wong at BFS on SME Finance in Singapore
[box] There are more than 200,000 SMEs in Singapore making up 99% of enterprises, employing two-thirds of the workforce, and accounting for about half of Singapore’s GDP. We spoke to Mr Alan Wong, Managing Director and Bibby Financial Services (Singapore) Pte Limited about the SME financing landscape in Singapore. [/box] What’s happening in Singapore, and… Continue reading Interview: Alan Wong at BFS on SME Finance in Singapore
How does Invoice Finance work?
[box] Businesses sell on credit to boost their sales, but doing this can hurt their cash flow. The firm can either wait for their customers to pay, or they can sell their invoices to a bank that can quickly give them some money equal to 90% of the invoices due. That bank is providing an… Continue reading How does Invoice Finance work?
Alternative business finance explained
[box] We speak to business owners every day who are growing their businesses, exporting to new markets, or looking to refinance and restructure their business to ready them for the next stage of their journey. [/box] Business owners and entrepreneurs who require a cash injection for their operations will usually speak to their bank first… Continue reading Alternative business finance explained
The UAE in Africa
[box] Investment in Africa has typically been dominated by the US, EU & BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India & China) nations. Moreover, according to the World Investment Report 2018, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows into African nations have fallen by 21% over the past year. However, one improbable nation outside the established providers of African FDI… Continue reading The UAE in Africa
Business Funding 101: Debt versus Equity
[box] One of the critical questions facing organisations is finding the appropriate mix of Finance for their activities. Equity and debt are the traditional sources of Funding for most companies, while some choose blended or hybrid sources of Funding. Equity and debt can be looked at with regards to access to finance and economic resources… Continue reading Business Funding 101: Debt versus Equity
How do farmers access finance in India?
[box] Bihar has won the Krishi Karman Award several times for its agricultural performance. Last year, the president of India mentioned that Bihar can potentially initiate the country’s next green revolution. This article investigates the farmer’s financing opportunities in a district of Bihar, Bhagalpur, and gives a more concrete insight in the situation at grass-roots… Continue reading How do farmers access finance in India?